Gastric Bypass Errors: Medical Malpractice and Weight Loss Surgery
Those injured by medical professionals have true advocates at our Salt Lake City legal office. Our experienced medical malpractice attorneys will fight for you, seeking compensation to cover hardship and losses experienced due to poor medical care.
One surgery that has come up frequently in the news over the last few years is the gastric bypass. Because of this, we would like to take a look at medical negligence when it comes to weight loss surgery procedures.
Bariatric Surgery Continues to Gain in Popularity
Because of the obesity epidemic in our country, it should come as no surprise that weight loss surgery procedures such as the gastric bypass continue to be quite popular. Hundreds of thousands of patients have undergone surgical weight loss procedures over the last few years. Studies have shown that effective bariatric surgery can promote rapid and safe weight loss while also addressing hypertension, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and other health issues linked to obesity and morbid obesity.
The Complexity of Gastric Bypass Surgery
Yet despite the benefits we've noted above, these surgical weight loss procedures can be quite complex. This is particularly true of the gastric bypass procedure, which is one of the most well-known and most popular options for surgical weight loss. This surgery involves permanently reducing the stomach size in order to alter appetite and the bypassing part of the small intestine in order to reduce caloric absorption during digestion. The surgery is very difficult to reverse.
The Potential for Surgical Error Is Always Present
Given the revision involved and the complexity of the procedure, it should come as no surprise that errors may occur while performing a gastric bypass. The errors can have lasting consequences for patients. If a surgeon is inexperienced or negligent in performing a gastric bypass, this can lead to injuries of other parts of the body or injury to the stomach and small intestine.
Complications After Gastric Bypass Surgery May Occur
In addition to errors during the operation itself, there is the chance of complications following surgery while a patient heals. For example, a poorly performed bariatric surgery may result in the leaking of gastric fluid into the patient's system, causing serious internal injuries. Perforations of the stomach may also develop, leading to similar issues. Infection, contraindications of prescribed medications, and other common post-surgical risks may also arise.
Life-Threatening Problems Affect 1% to 5% of Gastric Bypass Patients
Given the nature of the surgery, there is a chance of serious complications occurring that could prove life-threatening. These include blood clots, internal bleeding, severe leakage of gastric fluid, and heart attack. It's estimated that 1 in 200 gastric bypass patients may die as a result of surgical complications.
Nutritional Deficiencies After Gastric Bypass Surgery
A patient's diet and eating habits will need to change after undergoing gastric bypass surgery simply given the nature of the procedure. As a result, some patients may suffer from nutritional deficiencies. Surgeons should provide patients with ample information concerning their new diet and provide guidelines to ensure proper nutrition. Failure to inform patients about these issues and/or to provide information on proper eating habits following the surgery may be construed as acts of negligence.
Holding Bariatric Surgeons Accountable
Our team wants to ensure that anyone who is harmed as a result of a negligent weight loss surgeon receives the compensation that they deserve for the hardships sustained. We will work with you to hold the surgeon accountable for his or her negligence.
Learn More About Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
If you or someone that you love has been seriously harmed as a result of a medical mistake, it's important that you contact our medical malpractice attorneys today to discuss your legal options. Our firm is here for you in your time of legal need.
