Health

It‘s the Gov’t’s Fault: Fmr World’s Fattest Man Sues British National HC for Weight

The government let me get fat. Its the Govts Fault: Fmr Worlds Fattest Man Sues British National HC for Weight

That‘s the argument of the former world’s fattest man, a British citizen who once weighed 980 pounds. 50-year-old Paul Mason is suing the British National Health Service (NHS) saying that he reached out for help but didn’t get the kind he wanted. That’s despite the fact that the government paid for his gastric bypass surgery that led to him shedding 462 pounds.

The Daily Mail details his claims:

Mr Mason, who was eating 20,000 calories a day at his heaviest, claims he sought help from his GP after ballooning to 30 stone.

Instead of receiving a treatment programme to manage his weight, he has complained he was told in 1996: ‘Ride your bike more’.

He also says he was sent to a dietician, rather than the eating disorders specialist he had asked to see, after his weight hit 64 stone.

‘I want to set a precedent so no one else has to get to the same size – and to put something back into society,’ Mr Mason told The Sun.

“As we have not heard from Mr Mason, it would be inappropriate to speculate,” an NHS spokesperson told the Mail.

The total cost of Mason’s care over the last 15 years has been about 1 million British pound sterlings, or over $1.5 million U.S.

That figure has many in Britain outraged. And that outrage shows just how sticky government health care can be: How does a government balance fiscal responsibility with citizen health and care? How much money is allocated to each patient, especially in an era where austerity is necessary? When resources are scarce, who gets what?

“It’s such a shame that so much time and resources have to go to help one person, these nurses will be sorely missed at a time when public finances are squeezed,” Charlotte Linacre, Campaign Manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, told the Mail.

“Although there is sympathy for people struggling with health issues, taxpayers will not feel this is a fair allocation of funds as they sit on waiting lists while footing the bill for his personal care.”

And therein lies the dilemma: In a government health care system, it’s taxpayers and government officials who decide when a patient gets care, what type of care he will get, and how much care is appropriate.

Mason said that if he wins his lawsuit, thus taking more taxpayer money, he will give it to programs to help obese people lose weight.

Comments (112)

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  • dizzyinthedark
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:32am

    The obese don‘t need dietitian’s or costly, life-altering operations. What they need is psychiatric help as most with eating disorders have deeply rooted problems of other kinds. Blaming corn products or processed foods is not the answer–although, processed foods certainly are not healthier than cooking from scratch.

    Report Post » dizzyinthedark  
    • inferno
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:10pm

      How many homecooked recipes actually contain ingredients that aren’t processed ? I can come up with only two…..fruits and vegetables, that is if you are a vegeterian.

      Report Post »  
    • 0bamanation
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:22pm

      @INFERNO
      you need to go to fresh food markets!.. or else, ya, you’re totally right.
      this guy shouldve just road his bike… i dont get his complaint. he’s just placing the blame elsewhere.

      Report Post » obamanation  
  • jettson
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:16am

    You would think at maybe 400 you would say to yourself WOW maybe I’m getting a little fat.

    Report Post » jettson  
    • HarryFromMA
      Posted on November 29, 2011 at 12:31pm

      I am surprised you didn’t figure this out. What fun he would have missed if he took responsibility for his eating, exercise,etc., and not get to 900+ pounds! Now, he gets to have the gov’t & taxpayers pay 1.5 million or so for his gluttony, and he got to eat all of that food!
      He got to have hid gluttony & then have taxpayers pay to clean up his mess!
      Big Gov’t entitlement, leech philosophy at work….

      Report Post »  
  • PDfromToledo
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:16am

    I don’t feel sorry for this guy at all… He’s been given a gift of gastric bypass and HE failed…boohoo. Selfish man eating all that food when children are literally starving to death. LOAD

    Report Post »  
  • kissmyasthma77
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:07am

    liposuction

    Report Post » kissmyasthma77  
    • REETZBEE
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 3:16pm

      Liposuction ain’t going to help that body. If he does lose weight he’s going to have to have massive surgery to get rid of all the flabby skin. Sorry to say but I don’t have much hope for this guy and his family.

      Report Post » REETZBEE  
  • Surfndestiny
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:03am

    Would somebody explain to me some things…………………….

    Obviously this guy has has no job, since he could not move, to get to work……………..

    So, unless he`s financially independant, how does he pay for 20000 callories of food a day?……..

    Does somebody go get the food for him?…………………..

    Instead of a chastity belt, they need an obesity belt wrapped around his mouth, with someone responsible, for only letting 200 calories a day getting through………………….

    That would nip the nonsense in the bud…………………………….

    Report Post »  
    • TheLeftMadeMeRight
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:20am

      1) He lives in a socialist based country and doesn’t need to work.
      B) Food stamps.
      3) To give him less than 20,000 calories would offend him and be racist.
      D) Meals on wheels…lots of wheels.

      Report Post » TheLeftMadeMeRight  
  • TheLeftMadeMeRight
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:00am

    He did try and ride his bike and hasn’t seen it since…

    Now he wants the Gov to buy him a new bike too…

    Report Post » TheLeftMadeMeRight  
  • Border Ruffian
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:49am

    Where your mind goes, your ass will follow, enough said

    Report Post » Border Ruffian  
  • Flux
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:47am

    I’ve seen that guy in a movie… I think it was Austin Powers II. FAT BASTARD! THAT’S IT!

    Report Post » Who would Jesus bomb?  
  • B4B
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:42am

    @ watchmany2k
    You mean to say that in England, you had trouble finding traditional English fare? No deep fried fish & chips? Bangers (sausages) & mash? Fatty “Sunday roast”? Yorkshire pudding (made with beef fat)? Not even the traditional English breakfast of eggs, bacon, bangers, fried bread, mushrooms, and baked beans?
    The English diet is full of fatty, high calorie foods. But indeed, someone had to feed this guy, enabling him beyond reason to reach 900+ pounds.

    Report Post »  
    • Sgt.Crust
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:35am

      B4B, now you’re making me hungry, arrrrg!

      Report Post »  
    • Chug
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:34pm

      You don’t make Yorkshire pudding with beef fat. You use eggs, flour and milk

      Report Post » Chug  
    • B4B
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 5:15pm

      CHUG, you also need fat, or lard. Typically it’s served with the Sunday roast, so beef fat is used. If you don’t use a “fat” you won’t have the same flavor or texture, not to mention never being able to remove them from the tins without destroying them.

      Report Post »  
  • ENTITLEMENTSBLOW
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:41am

    Worthless Fattie! Does personal responsiblility exist anymore?

    Report Post » ENTITLEMENTSBLOW  
  • GoalieMom30
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:40am

    This is so typical of those who get handouts from the Government. Blame the hand that“ feeds” you! Although in this case, He was actually shoveling the food in his OWN mouth! I don’t think the British Government had an agent there, shoveling it in for him! ARGGGGGH, this just frustrates me to no end!!

    Report Post »  
  • Sgt.Crust
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:39am

    Sonny Jim, you are one spoonful from the grave, and you put yourself there, so don’t go blaming everyone else for your blubbery existence!

    Report Post »  
  • The Grinch
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:37am

    I actually saw this man on a TV documentary and it was his Mommy who got him his daily food. It was really gross because they showed his (urp) naked body and how she would (urrrrrp) clean him and …….sorry gotta run and hurl again!

    Report Post »  
    • Sgt.Crust
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:54am

      dohp! Now you put that freakin mental picture in my head, I must go floss my brain now~

      Report Post »  
  • The Gooch
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:37am

    Along with diet and exercise, govt. can help you lose weight.
    Along with diet and exercise…

    Report Post »  
  • The Grinch
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:32am

    And to think I felt guilty for eating peanut butter on my whole wheat bagel! Can a person get so fat they will explode? Oh the humanity!

    Report Post »  
    • Tennessee Veteran
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:35am

      Could you imagine the size of the conflagration if this guy spontaneously combusted?

      Report Post » Tennessee Veteran  
  • Sgt.Crust
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:24am

    LOL, the ignorance of it all..what a useless flab filled twit!

    Report Post »  
  • BuckOfama
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:14am

    I’m not a muslim but this is one pig that offends me.

    Report Post »  
  • Chett
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:12am

    Ghost of future. Our future with Obamacare. We will have laws about how much you can eat and weight (checking kids at school already) so the poor taxpayers won’t be burdened with one persons bad choices. Its the true path of statism, for every problem the government fixes they will create at least 2 more with ‘unintended consequences’.

    Report Post »  
  • Speak without Fear
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:11am

    Mooochelle needs to read this story…….try as she might to legislate health eating habits….you can’t fix stupid, idiotic, imbeciles. They are what they are….

    Report Post »  
  • 48
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:09am

    Another example of big Govt. it excuses self responsibility. This is a sad site.

    Report Post »  
  • Allarius
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:07am

    The doctor’s advice was perfect. He needs to get of his fat behind and go outside and ride his bike. The Good Lord did not make us to be fat pathetic leaches on society who blame that same society for their self inflicted issues. And his parents need to be taken out and have their butts kicked.

    Report Post » Allarius  
    • RightUnite
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:11am

      Is there a bike out there big enough? Just wondering.

      Report Post »  
    • Chug
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:28pm

      He tried to follow the doctors advice, but apparently the bike is now stuck in the rolls of fat in his huge arse.

      Report Post » Chug  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 7:59am

    This story is stupid. There was no one there with a gun t his head forcing him to eat. He didn’t have to eat 20,000 calories a day. He was just famous for being fat, now he’s just fat. Now he wants to be stupid and sue the government for his lack of will power. He is clearly wanting attention to keep up his eating habit.

    Report Post »  
    • ChemTeacher
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:18am

      No this story is a glimpse at what a single payer health care system in this country will spawn. This country has already gone too far down the “nanny state” road. I see this mentality daily. If we don’t reverse the trend, then stories such as these and of course outrageous taxes to pay for the outcomes will be common place. This is what is at stake in 2012. Obama won’t be able to cram anymore of this type of legislation through, but if re-elected it will be impossible to undo what he has done so far. How many short term govt. entitlements have become permanent. Think Social Security. How is that working out for us?

      Report Post » ChemTeacher  
  • travlman77
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 7:50am

    I am a firm believer in “free will” and I believe that all humans have the God given right to live their lives in any way they wish. But that being said every decision we make everyday of our lives has consequences, both good and bad. The problem today is there is a segment of society that refuses to except responsibility for their bad decisions and blames everyone else.

    Report Post » travlman77  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:00am

      Very true, and while Yoda was laying on the couch shoving food in his mouth, someone had to be out buying those 20,000 calories he was eating, and the food choices could have been healthier since he couldn’t possibly have gotten out to buy them. Guess they need a “Biggest Loser” Britain.

      Report Post »  
    • envguy
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:36am

      not Yoda but Jabba

      Report Post »  
    • seayalater73
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 10:51am

      ENVYGUY– geek ckeck

      Report Post »  
  • Moocephus
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 7:37am

    Think it cant or wont happen here? Think again. I don’t mind pitching in to help the cancer patient get the treatment that may save their life. I dont like the idea of MY tax dollars funding a crack-baby for 18+ years or a sloth that wont take his/own healthcare in hand.

    Report Post » Moocephus  
    • Rowgue
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:39pm

      Why would anyone think that? People here have already tried to sue every fast food resuraunt in the country for making them fat. It’s only a matter of time before they realize that the government is where the real money is and that they love to give it away almost as much as they enjoy stealing it from people.

      Report Post »  
  • proliance
    Posted on January 7, 2011 at 7:33am

    Some people accept personal responsibility, some don’t. But you can‘t force it on anyone through gov’t programs.

    Report Post » proliance  
    • Sweet Sister
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 7:41am

      He had to have enablers. Anyone that size could not walk or even go to the grocery store for their food-who was feeding him 20,000 calories a day??? That is just crazy-How could he afford all that food if he was unable to work? What a wasted life.

      Report Post » Sweet Sister  
    • not funny
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 7:58am

      @ Sweet Sister

      You hit the nail on the head. He could not get his own food. He should sue the person who was getting it for him.

      Report Post »  
    • watchmany2k
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:07am

      I lived in England for four months on a work visa. Their food is different than ours, not all laced with corn syrup. Bread contains the bran etc. I had to look around to find fatty foods I found myself craving.
      It takes work for this bloke to get so fat in that country. That in my book denotes a conscious decision on his part. I lost 50 pounds just living normally. Check the ingredients folks, it’s the farm subsidies that made the excess corn, and they have to do something with it, so it’s in ALL processed foods, that is one reason why waistlines are growing, and it may produce major cravings for MORE. It is best not to eat anything processed anymore, make it your self or do without imho

      Report Post » watchmany2k  
    • ilovethiscountry
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:20am

      I would like to know where people get the money to buy all of this food,

      Report Post »  
    • wildjoker5
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:26am

      He wants to give his winnings of his lawsuit to obese people to help them loose weight? Like $1.5 Million allowed him to loose all of his weight. Money is not the issue, this is simply self-control probably stemming from mommy and/or daddy enabling him from a very young age to giving him everything he ever wanted, when he wanted it. Addiction to food, i believe it, but British food? It must have been McDs putting all those toys in his Happy Meals.

      Report Post »  
    • P C BE DAMNED
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:57am

      How the hell does anyone owe this guy any thing. I refuse to listen to the answer. Fools, fools, fools,…………………..

      Report Post » P C BE DAMNED  
    • taskmaster78
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:28am

      This is so F’N stupid, I think his fat has settled in his cranium. It would take a year to starve this fat ass. This is the world we live in, once a nation that fought off National Socialism and now can’t take responsibility for themselves.

      Report Post »  
    • David286 - FL
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 10:03am

      @not funny – No one was force feeding him food against his will, the only person responsible for his condition is him! Part of the problem with relying on the government for everything is people no long take responsibility for there own actions. It’s ALWAYS somebody elses fault.

      Report Post » David286 - FL  
    • Jayk Signal
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:17am

      I‘m sure it’s not his intent. But this guy may be pursuing the best real strategy we have of wresting control of our lives from the power-crazed socialists:

      The socialists want the government to be mommy, daddy, nurse-maid, boss, banker and personal valet? Then THEY are financially and legally responsible for each and everything that goes wrong in life. If they don’t fix it, we should pound our feet on the floor and bawl like babies.

      Until the socialists are forced to deal with the misery they enable, they will continue to insist they know how to run our lives better than us.

      Mr. Obama! I want cookies! Now! Now! Now! Whhaahahh!

      Report Post » Jayk Signal  
    • Simxn
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:22pm

      @SWEET SISTER
      @NOTFUNNY
      @ILOVETHISCOUNTRY

      I live in the UK and I’m English. I can tell you that, this guy doesn’t need to work because he will be on welfare—you get on welfare automatically if you lose your job or most likely in his case—can’t work, and go fill out the forms to sign on. He will have ‘disability’ status and so will likely get extra payments—this is what a full-blown welfare system looks like folks, you can do absolutely nothing and get paid for it because there are others out working instead. His accommodation will also likely be at the taxpayers expense.

      Re: Enablers. …Well, over here we have things quite modern so if you want your food delivered to you that really is not unusual and depending on where you are can make financial sense. Remember, in the UK you are never more than 72 miles from the coast—just to put things in perspective. He will have ordered his shopping online via his taxpayer provided laptop and told Tesco to deliver it to him and the back door is perhaps open. Believe me, it is very easy to abuse a system that has no one in charge or anyone with a backbone which may be interpreted as depriving someone. Brits live in a climate of fear, brought about over many years now. Political correctness and ‘rights’ (civil, human and any newly constructed bureaucratic claptrap) rule the roost here today. Woe betide anyone who falls out of line and stands on that quaint old thing called principle.

      I often think about leaving here and joining you guys in the US. For as bad is Obama is and all the s**t he’s bringing on you—your country is still way behind in conversion to Socialism. I would compare modern day America to 1950′s England.

      @WATCHMANY2K
      You’re right about the food.

      Report Post »  
    • Rowgue
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:34pm

      @Sweeet Sister

      Exactly. Unable to work, unable to walk, unable to fit in a car. Anybody that big has somebody paying for, fetching, and feeding all that food to them.

      Report Post »  
    • JGP
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 1:19pm

      I’m not sure, haven’t done any research or anything, but I think he is fat because HE EATS too much. I’m not an expert so I could be wrong.

      Report Post »  
    • leftiesaredangerous
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 4:43pm

      The governments fault? LOL! Oh my, aside from it being HIS responsibility, maybe he should assign some blame to the person(s) bringing this fat ass his food.

      Report Post »  
    • vngstr
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 7:23pm

      Was this guy really JABA THE HUT? I’m just saying!

      Report Post » vngstr  
    • independentvoteril
      Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:16pm

      they should wire his mouth SHUT.. and leave it that way..

      Report Post » independentvoteril  
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