“We are sorry that some individuals reading our paper have been upset by the concept that anorexia nervosa has a terminal stage. Our intention is certainly not to cause distress, and Individuals who are adversely affected by exposure to these terms might benefit from opportunities to further explore, clarify, and discuss their reactions to the issues raised by these concepts with their clinicians and others.”

            Jennifer Gaudiani, May 20, 2023

Will Rogers is credited with the quote, “If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.” For some reason known to only God and broccoli, not only does Jennifer Gaudiani not understand that concept, but she uses an excavator auger to dig her hole as deeply as possible.

Apparently, Gaudiani does not care who she hurts so long as her oversized ego is fed.

On May 20, 2023, with two other authors, Gaudiani paid to have published an article attempting to explain her Protocol of Death. That’s correct. Unless Gaudiani worked out a special arrangement (perhaps a life termination at half price) she had to pay a journal to publish her litany of pablum.

According to that journal, it costs a minimum of 1,340 Sterling pounds which converts to $1,667.83 USD for a publication. Or, about 20 minutes of the amount Gaudiani charges families to buy a “membership fee” for her clinic.

I am embedding her latest manifesto here:

https://jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/submission-guidelines/fees-and-funding

When you read her self-aggrandizing, self-important continued manifesto of death, you may ask, are there any new statistics in this article? Are there any additional collaborative studies included? Is there any greater insight into why Gaudiani was complicit in the lives of three victims being terminated? Does she explain why her first two victims were terminated before she even wrote her paper setting forth her Protocol of Death? The answers to these questions are obvious.

Gaudiani epitomizes medical system hierarchy and privilege.

The hypocrisy in Gaudiani’s manifesto is epic.  She states:

“First, we fully acknowledge the presence of systems of oppression at work throughout every aspect of eating disorder care and within society that harm both individuals and groups in pervasive ways.”

She then states: “Finally, as we stressed in our initial article, we clearly applaud expanding treatment options and availability, and we strongly advocate for making every effort to provide every single patient every option for treatment and recovery at every phase of their struggles.”

Expanding treatment options and availability?

These hollow words are betrayed by Gaudiani’s own conduct. She speaks of expanding treatment options and availability. So let’s review exactly how she accomplishes this.

Gaudiani’s own website exposes how vacuous her words are. Her fee structure is most instructive.

The fee for Gaudiani’s “expert consultation” is:

“Dr. Gaudiani: $2,500/2-hour expert consultation + pre/post-appointment review/follow-up”

If a patient chooses to join as a “member,” the annual membership fee is $5,000 for Dr. Gaudiani.

Follow-up session fees are as follows:

Dr. Gaudiani: $250/25 min. session + care coordination” [Even that statistic is deceptive. How many ethical therapists conduct 25 minute sessions? Maybe Gaudiani is so erudite, she can accomplish in 1/2 the time it takes other counselors one hour to accomplish. Obviously, Gaudiani can “terminate” eating disorders faster than anyone at home or abroad! Make no mistake. Gaudiani’s hourly charge is $600.00.]

What about health insurance?

Not only does Gaudiani NOT accept insurance, she will not even submit claims directly to insurance companies.

And as for Medicare/Medicaid?

Not a chance.

What about consulting with your primary care physician?

Sorry! Not … oh wait. She will do that. At the mere cost to every family of … $1,000.00 per hour.

In her manifesto, she stated, “We would like to emphasize that the motivation for our articles was to bring attention to the importance of considering end-of-life care issues for patients with anorexia nervosa, not to stigmatize, or develop hierarchies, or privilege some patients over others.”

For those who are suffering who cannot afford Gaudiani’s outrageous price structure?  You are the broken eggs making the omelet. You do not have access to Gaudiani’s so-called “clinic membership.” Gaudiani perpetuates the very definition of white, elitist, exclusionary, hierarchal medical and mental health care. Of course, she does not want to discuss those issues. Since she is the very essence of this elitist, medical bias.

Her fee structure, her refusal to accept Medicare and Medicaid, her refusal to accept insurance is the very essence of privilege and treating some patients over others. As for the poor?  Those in the minority communities? Well, her Protocol of Death may be just what you are looking for.

In fact, the only price point missing on Gaudiani’s website is the cost to participate in her Protocol of Death. Or is that the only service she offers for free?

HAES misaligned.

Gaudiani’s hypocrisy started long before the most recent revelations. For years, she has positioned herself as a HAES informed provider. Podcasts have stated, “She [Gaudiani] is working hard to change the way medical care is practiced for those in larger bodies. She shared her story of how she became HAES-aligned…” Another podcast stated, “Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani, author of the book, Sick Enough, has made weight inclusive medical care a priority at her Denver based telemedicine clinic and she shares her ideas for why doctors must act to eradicate weight stigma on this episode.”

Weight inclusivity. HAES aligned. Certainly, Gaudiani took those noble goals and made it a priority to be inclusive in her own hiring practices. So, let’s take a look at her executive employees.

Jennifer Gaudiani … non-obese, white female.

Sarah-Ashley Robbins, M.D. … non-obese white female

Aimee Lischke, M.D. … non-obese white female

Aimee Becker, Chief Operating Officer, non-obese white female

Meghan Eliopulos, Chief Marketing Officer, non-obese white female

Abby Brockman, RN … non-obese white female

Krista Erickson, Director of Intake … non-obese white female

Camille Vander Veen, Clinic Manager … non-obese white female

Anupama Das, MD … non-obese Indian nationality

Of the 9 employees listed on her website, 8 are non-obese white women.

The ASDAH, which owns the HAES trademark, drummed Lindo Bacon out of its organization for far less than this.

In short, Gaudiani may talk about being HAES aligned and being weight inclusive. But these words are hollow since she does not remotely practice diversity among her own executive team.

Perhaps what Gaudiani should have said was she was HAES aligned and weight inclusive (except in her hiring practices) as long as you can afford her outrageously high fees.

Taking Clueless to an Epic Level

The very first sentence of the May 20 article demonstrates the absolute tone-deaf nature of an egomaniac. “We are pleased that the concept of terminal anorexia nervosa is being considered in serious discussion.”

Gaudiani is pleased that the entire eating disorder community has aligned against her? Gaudiani is pleased that there are at least 5 articles from around the world which rip to shreds her Protocol of Death? Gaudiani is pleased that no reputable eating disorder professional will publicly stand with her and her little team? Gaudiani is pleased that her voice is the only voice in favor of her Protocol of Death?

Is that considered serious discussions? Clueless… absolutely clueless.

The Knife to the Heart

Gaudiani’s true damaging words, the words she boldly and unapologetically wrote included, “We are sorry that some individuals reading our paper have been upset by the concept that anorexia nervosa has a terminal stage. Our intention is certainly not to cause distress, and Individuals who are adversely affected by exposure to these terms might benefit from opportunities to further explore, clarify, and discuss their reactions to the issues raised by these concepts with their clinicians and others.”

So, if her Protocol of Death hurt you, or made you upset … tough! Go tell it to your therapist. Or, if you can afford her outrageous fees, you can come to her. As long as you have enough Mr. Green, Yankee dollars, sawbucks.

But that is not the worst. Gaudiani stated, “At the end they may have agonal breathing, and then stop breathing. Their hearts stop. They die. They terminate.” 

They terminate.

Good Lord. What cold, uncaring, unfeeling words from a superficial, egomaniacal hypocrite.

They terminate.

They terminate.

Our beloved children terminate.

Hey Everyone! My beloved daughter Morgan was terminated at 11:31 p.m. on October 30, 2016! Hasta la vista baby!

Why would any family go to the Gaudiani Clinic, pay her very high fees, (presumably in advance) while knowing that its founder refers to the most heart wrenching pain a parent can experience, the greatest heart ache imaginable … as your child terminating?

And that same person has the audacity to also say through her then attorney, “Let me begin by saying that Dr. Gaudiani and I both understand the overwhelming and lasting grief you must feel from the loss of your daughter to anorexia nervosa.”

The fact that Gaudiani uses the word “terminate” to describe the most precious thing you hold dear being taken from this existence, while at the same time stating she “understands the overwhelming and lasting grief” a parent feels when your child dies as a result of anorexia nervosa is the clearest example of the darkest of hearts and the darkest of souls.

They terminate.

They terminate.

Perhaps, regarding termination, the only thing that will be terminated is Gaudiani’s Clinic… as complaints to every state board in which she is licensed to practice are being made. And those complaints are being made. As more families come to the understanding that they will not abide their children being terminated.

Because surely, being terminated is the cruelest cancellation of them all.