Gastric Bypass Litigation Cases
Gastric bypass litigation cases have grown
along with the popularity of the surgery itself. Gastric bypass
is a surgical procedure performed on obese people that can help
them lose vast amounts of weight quickly.
In 2004, there were over 140,000 gastric
bypass surgeries performed in the U. S. alone.Gastric bypass surgery,
however, is not without risk. Research has suggested that most
of the gastric bypass litigation cases involve comparatively inexperienced
surgeons (less than 100 procedures).
Inadequate training of surgeons who perform gastric bypass surgery
is thought by many medical
malpractice experts to result in litigation when complications
arise after surgery. Some hospitals allow surgeons to perform
the operation after attending a weekend seminar and only a few
hands-on cases guided by a more experienced physician.
But, gastric bypass surgery is a complicated procedure. It may
last four hours or more and require a three to five day hospital
stay. Risk of infection, pneumonia and peritonitis are three of
the major complications that can occur after surgery. It has been
noted that up to one-third of all patients who have undergone
gastric bypass surgery will develop gallstones due to rapid weight
loss.
Nutritional problems may develop from bypassing part of the intestine
and reducing the absorption of vitamins and minerals. Anemia,
metabolic bone disease, or osteoporosis may result from this reduced
absorption.
The most common type of surgery is known as "Roux-en-Y gastric
bypass" whereby the stomach is shrunk dramatically in size.
Food bypasses most of the stomach along with the duodenum.
As the amount of surgeries have blossomed over the past 5 years
so have the gastric bypass litigation cases. The amount of medical
malpractice cases brought to trial because of mishaps during this
type of surgery are not expected to go away anytime soon.
If you or someone you know is experiencing complications from
gastric bypass surgery, seek qualified medical attention first
to correct the problem and get stabilized. If you believe that
your case involved medical malpractice then seek a medical
malpractice lawyer in order to make sure your rights are protected
and you receive the compensation that you are due.
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