The Vox Box

Thu., Sept. 13, 2007

Weight loss surgery for teens…

What do you all think? This is from an article in today's S-R by Jonel Aleccia

"State-paid weight-loss surgery OK'd for young adults"
Morbidly obese young adults ages 18 to 20 will be eligible for state-paid surgery for weight loss starting next year, under new rules approved by a Washington health care committee.
However, the group responsible for determining Medicaid and other coverage denied the procedure for use in children and younger adolescents, citing safety concerns and worries about whether they could consent to life-altering surgery.
"It's a lot to be deciding on when you're not quite an adult," said Dr. Matthew Rawlins, a Spokane bariatric surgeon.

Check out the full article. There is a story from a local teen who had the surgery.

What do you all think?

Posted Sept. 13, 2007, 10:21 a.m.

In 2006, then-editor Steve Smith of The Spokesman-Review had the idea of starting a publication for an often forgotten audience: teenagers. The Vox Box was a continuation of the Vox, an all-student staffed newspaper published by The Spokesman-Review. High school student journalists who staffed the Vox made all content decisions as they learn about the trade of journalism. This blog's mission was to give students an opportunity to publish their voices. The Vox Box and the Vox wrapped up in June 2009, but you can follow former staffers' new blog at http://voxxiez.blogspot.com.