“Postoperative care of bariatric medical tourism: A public health concern”

Background: Despite considerable evidence supporting the efficacy of bariatric surgery, poor insurance coverage in the United States restricts access to the procedure, encouraging medical tourism. There is no long-term postoperative (PO) care from foreign health services for bariatric medical tourists (BMTs). Consequently, BMTs become the responsibility of US physicians after bariatric surgery abroad. We are using the experience of a patient who returned from Mexico with PO complications to illustrate public health consequences of medical tourism.

Source: Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases - November 1, 2018 Category: Surgery Authors: LaRae Seemann, Jaine L McKenzie, Karen R Draper, L. Renee Hilton Source Type: research