14 Comments
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jen's avatar

I remember this… it’s nice to hear it’s off the market! That’s a little bit of good news.

It’s like the inventor read about bulimia and thought “what a great idea! Let’s surgically force it on fat people!”

My heart breaks for everyone who got the device. Everything about it sounds BARBARIC, but “After device removal, there may be a risk of persistent fistula, an abnormal passageway between the stomach and the abdominal wall” is an especially hellish cruelty.

My brain usually reads “bariatric” in any context as “barbaric.” It’s extra true in the case of this device.

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Elusis's avatar

Surgical bulimia. I'd say "now I've seen everything" but I'm sure there's always something more horrifying around the corner.

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Ray Bernoff's avatar

I'm sad how unsurprised I am that anyone thought prescribing surgically enabled bulimia was a good or helpful idea. Good riddance.

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Meghan Burke's avatar

OMFG! Thank you, as always, for your work.

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Toni Travis's avatar

This is horrifying. Thank you for breaking this down.

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OneinaSmithion's avatar

Omg!!! What torture device horror! I’m appalled this was ever approved, and sorry for every patient counseled to explore this horrifying “treatment!” I’m shocked and disgusted beyond words. Thanks Ragen for continuing to expose the realities of weight torture in this world!

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Natalie C's avatar

Wow. What a way to find out you need a new doctor.

"Would you like to reschedule your appointment?"

"No, this was my last visit. I’m changing doctors."

"Oh, do you need a referral for a specialist?"

"No. Literally any other doctor will do."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

".…"

".…"

"Okay."

"Yeah."

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Kate Morgan Reade's avatar

Ditto every one of these comments. Frankenstein meets bulimia. Disgusting greedy humans will prey on anyone.

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Laurie's avatar

I'd never heard of the AspireAssist. It sounds like an utterly horrifying device.

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Lynn's avatar

Same

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Pegra's avatar

Horrific! On all counts -- the gizmo, the "study", the fatphobia. I'm glad that this is both the first and the last time I will hear of this instrument of torture.

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Helen's avatar

Annilyn if you’re here I’m so sorry you had this shitty experience with your doctor and that switching is not going to be too difficult. You deserve respectful, knowledgeable healthcare and it sounds like the appointment you had where this was mentioned was severely lacking on both counts x

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jamie fritz's avatar

Good fucking riddance.

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Chris C's avatar

This is horrific.

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