Surgical Malpractice: Gastric Bypass Complications
If you believe you or someone you love has been injured or suffered due to medical malpractice during gastric bypass surgery, our New York-based team of experienced malpractice attorneys can help. Please call us at (800) 966-4999 or fill out our online contact form for a free case evaluation. We will fight for you!
Obesity in the United States has risen to epidemic proportions. In the most serious cases of obesity, diet and exercise cannot work quickly enough to prevent serious complications or death from obesity-related illnesses. In recent years, radical surgical procedures have been developed to quickly treat obese patients. Unfortunately, these procedures do not always go according to plan, leaving patients in greater pain than before the surgery.
What is Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Gastric bypass surgery (GBS) is a procedure for the morbidly obese (persons more than 100 lbs overweight). GBS involves reducing the size of the stomach pouch to roughly one ounce, creating a smaller opening between the intestine and stomach. The objective is to sharply curtail the intake of calories by making the patient feel full more quickly. This promotes rapid weight loss.
Gastric bypass surgery is a serious operation, as it requires the cutting and reconnecting of internal tissue. If performed by an inexperienced surgeon, GBS can result in life-threatening problems.
Gastric Bypass Surgery is still a new, risky procedure
As the popularity of gastric bypass surgery increases, medical malpractice cases associated with GBS are becoming more and more prevalent. Since gastric bypass surgery is a multi-billion dollar industry, surgeons are now flocking to this field without adequate training, often causing unsuspecting patients catastrophic injuries and even death.
Recently, the experience level of the surgeon has been under severe scrutiny due to the alarming rate of patient injuries and deaths.
Gastric Bypass Surgery Malpractice Can Cause Permanent Complications
Because the organs and tissues affected by GBS are so delicate and interconnected, mistakes during the procedure lead to serious permanent disability if not treated promptly. Complications associated with Gastric Bypass Surgery include:
- Death;
- Injury due to faulty sutures or staples;
- Leaking of gastrointestinal juices from surgical connections;
- Infections/abscess;
- Peritonitis;
- Kidney failure.
GBS malpractice can cause permanent damage to major organs and may require follow-up surgeries, extended recovery periods, and loss of earnings or income if the patient is a wage-earner.
Seek Legal Advice for Gastric Bypass Surgery Malpractice
It has been estimated that 1 in every 200 to 300 gastric bypass surgeries result in a patient death. The frequency of the other complications is even greater.
If you believe you have been involved in a gastric bypass surgery medical malpractice incident, know that you are not alone.
If you or a loved one have been injured by a gastric bypass surgery, please call us at (800) 966-4999 or fill out our online contact form for a free case evaluation. Our experienced lawyers are ready to help. We will fight for you!
