Fast Food Vs Medical Integrity

Croquet · July 10, 2009, 12:29am

MEDICAL staff are split over whether McDonald’s should continue to have a fast-food outlet at the new Royal Children’s Hospital.
Some doctors on the front line in the fight against child obesity are strongly opposed to a fast-food store in the $1 billion hospital’s shopping and entertainment mall.
Others say fast-food outlets such as McDonald’s provide a much-needed distraction for sick children, which is acceptable in moderation.
Both sides have lobbied the hospital’s retail food committee.
The fast-food giant has a lease at the existing hospital site until 2011, when the new hospital will open. The latest bunfight is a replay of the 1991 showdown when unions and some hospital staff unsuccessfully opposed McDonald’s.
A senior physician told the Herald Sun there were strong opinions among his staff on both sides of the argument.
But pediatrician Dr Zoe McCallum - who works in the weight management and nutrition clinics - said any fast food outlets would undermine the work of doctors.
“I think it is endorsing it - having this in the foyer of your hospital, how can that not be an endorsement?” she said.
"I really hope the decision is made not to go ahead with brand-name fast food given our job is increasingly about promoting children’s health, not just treating acutely sick kids.
“I hope opinions will be heard and this is not a fait accompli.”
Royal Children’s acting chief executive officer Lee Martin said no decision had been made.
“We are in the process of consultation with patients, families and staff about what types of food they would like to be able to purchase at the new hospital,” Mr Martin said.

“Choice and affordability are the two strongest themes emerging from our consultation with families and staff thus far.”

The Australian Medical Association made a strong submission to the hospital sub-committee urging a ban on food high in fat, salt and sugar.

“AMA Victoria recommends the Royal Children’s Hospital adopt a no-junk-food policy in the creation of their new facility,” it said.

“Adopting this policy would be an important symbol which demonstrates a real commitment from the hospital and the community it serves to tackling the obesity epidemic and promoting healthy eating.”

But HeartKids Victoria president Scott Reinke said there was a place for McDonald’s at the Children’s Hospital to provide entertainment and a treat for children when they most needed it.

McDonald’s Australia spokeswoman Amy Lawrence said the fast-food giant had not lodged a formal expression of interest and could not anticipate if it would.

But she said the future of Ronald McDonald House was guaranteed, regardless of the fast-food debate.

Ronald McDonald House provides accommodation for sick children and their families.

The hospital refused to release the results of an internal survey on the food issue conducted two years ago.

But doctors told the Herald Sun an overwhelming majority opposed fast-food stores and the feelings had only intensified as the new hospital drew nearer.

Health Minister Daniel Andrews’ spokesman said he was confident the new hospital would make the right decision.

Opposition Health spokeswoman Helen Shardey refused to offer her own opinion on whether McDonald’s should be in the new hospital.

“There’s something wrong in Victoria when the failure of the Brumby Government to properly plan for the new RCH brings on disagreements over food outlets versus enough space to treat sick children,” Ms Shardey said.

Royal Children Hospital doctors split over burger giant | Herald Sun

Alright my very first thoughts were ah hospital food vs fast food , could be long found release. But after giving the matter some thought and reading the article i donot think hospital should endorse a commercial outlet on the basis of their considerable donations. And this could have ill effect on long term patients. Very capitalistic i find. Or maybe macdonald could change their menu at this special venue for obvious reasons to draw a compromise.

Straight_up · July 10, 2009, 1:40am

School cafeterias and hospitals should only offer healthy food choices. So that'd include no pop machines, chocolate bars, crazy fried food, etc. However, it's completely unfair to pick on one specific fastfood company (in this case MacDonalds) when this rule should be applied to other junk/fast foods as well, i.e. Coca Cola, Pepsi, Nestle, etc.

sadzzz · July 10, 2009, 4:26am

Re: Fast Food Vs Medical Integrity

upon reading the first 2 three sentences of the article… i was thinking, they’ve gotta be talking about the Maccers at our beloved Royal Children’s hopistal in melbourne… and wala…yes it was true … good job Melbourne :k: kidding

Ive been to the hospital on many occassions, and lemme tell u… the only thing at that time u crave is… some friend stuff or some hot tandoori chicken.. or some oily paratta… i dunno what it is… even though in most of the ones ive gone too, there have been no maccers… i have made the hubz go get something unhealthy for me…

but i do agree, kids dont need to eat such stuff.. they dont need fried things as a matter of fact. Maybe just keep pasta, veggies, roasts and things in the cafe… and make it all halal :k:

Lucid_Chaotic · July 10, 2009, 4:37am

That won't work... Just as the hospital is worrying about implicitly endorsing MacDs by letting them operate on their venue, if MacDs offers an alternative menu, they'd be implicitly admitting to the unhealthiness of their traditional menu.

sadzzz · July 10, 2009, 5:10am

Re: Fast Food Vs Medical Integrity

^ do u lot not have the healthy maccers menu where u r?

i thought that was everywhere. As in the salads, wraps and grilled stuff. Even KFC has got it now

But it shouldnt be about maccers. There should be no unhealthy foods on the premises. Just like, peanuts and other nuts are banned from such venues... so should unhealthy foods.

Croquet · July 10, 2009, 9:19am

well that much is an open secret. Fast food is hardly healthy and if they were to tweak their menu that might just work as a better marketing strategy.

Croquet · July 10, 2009, 9:20am

i dont know about other such outlets being endorsed by hospitals. I dont think they are.

underthedome · July 10, 2009, 6:35pm

Re: Fast Food Vs Medical Integrity

There is nothing wrong eating McDonald's as long as it's done in moderation and sparingly. Unfortunately as evident by the ever increasing obesity rates many people eat more like goldfish rather than conscious consumers who are capable of making choices.

The fact is fast food not only adversely effects those who eat it regulary but negatively effects society as a whole. Regular fast food eaters will generally suffer from poorer health which in turn decreases educational development and production value while increasing healthcare costs. While I strongly believe in a free market, those industries which are inherently safe but shown to harm society as a whole when their product is abused by consumers and when such abuse is likely to occur by a sizeable portion of the population or by children should be regulated.

Society has already established age restriction policies for the alcohol, tobacco, sex, and gambling industries, why should the food industry be excempt of such regulation? The age restriction rules and regulations are in place because children are still developing mentally and have a limited decision skill set as the frontal lobes are not fully matured. Knowing this and knowing obesity is an epidemic restrictions on the fast food and junk food industry in such places as schools, hospitals, and parks makes sense and should be done for the greater good of society.