Exploring isolation, self-directed care and extensive follow-up: factors heightening the health and safety risks of bariatric surgery abroad among Canadian medical tourists

Abstract

Purpose: This article explores first-hand accounts of Canadian bariatric patients' experiences of seeking and obtaining weight loss surgery abroad through the practice of medical tourism. While researchers have identified many of the challenges and associated health and safety risks imposed on patients by engaging in medical tourism generally, little is known about the specific challenges experienced by Canadians seeking bariatric surgery abroad. Method: To better understand these challenges, we conducted thematic analysis on interviews conducted with 20 former Canadian bariatric tourists. Results: Our analysis illuminated three key challenges Canadians face in obtaining bariatric care: (1) stigma and isolation from friends, family and medical professionals; (2) self-directed navigation of domestic and destination health care systems; and (3) challenges with obtaining adequate follow-up care in Canada. Conclusions: While these challenges identified by participants may occur in other forms of medical tourism, it appears that these challenges are occurring simultaneously in cases of bariatric tourism by Canadians. These challenges appear to work in conjunction to heighten the health and safety risks potential Canadian bariatric tourists may be exposed to. Unless structural changes occur to increase domestic availability of bariatric surgery, Canadians are likely to continue seeking this care abroad.

Extensively Drug-Resistant Carbapenemase-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Medical Tourism from the United States to Mexico, 2018–2019

“…Consistent with a 2015 survey of bariatric medical tourists from Canada, we found primary motivations for bariatric medical tourism among interviewees included shorter wait times and lower cost ( 39 ). A qualitative study from Canada also showed that bariatric medical tourists identified the Internet as a primary source of information for identifying providers and validating decisions to engage in medical tourism ( 40 ). Difficulty reconciling conflicting information sources might have delayed the effect of the CDC travel warnings.…”

Medical Travel For Surgical Procedures: A Systematic Review Of The Literature

“…The main characteristics of the included studies from set 1 and set 2 can be found in Table 1 and Table 2. The majority of set 1 studies assessed the experience or motivations of patients traveling to receive surgery, some of these did this through the perspectives of doctors or clinicians (52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59)(60). Two studies focused on patients that presented with complications after traveling to receive surgery (61,62).…”

“…Orthopaedic surgeries were included in ve studies (35,52,53,56,63). Four studies focused on bariatric procedures (35,56,59,63). Organ transplantations were accounted for in four studies (54,(64)(65)(66).…”

“…In ve articles, various pre-assessment contexts have been noted. Canadian citizens traveling abroad to acquire bariatric surgery successfully bypassed a stringent system of pre-operative checks before surgery (59). Patients noted that, in the destination country Mexico, none of the pre-scanning existed, granting them immediate access to the surgery (59).…”

“…Canadian citizens traveling abroad to acquire bariatric surgery successfully bypassed a stringent system of pre-operative checks before surgery (59). Patients noted that, in the destination country Mexico, none of the pre-scanning existed, granting them immediate access to the surgery (59). They were aware that bypassing the Canadian system meant forfeiting their access to readily available medical services for questions and prompt treatment (59).…”