Obesity is currently affecting more than half of the American population. Every year, statistics of obese individuals is growing. The lifestyles and eating choices that are being made are affecting the overall health of Americans and making them obese. The traditional method of diet and exercise is no longer used as effectively as it used to be. In fact, there are now diet pills, devices, and even surgeries like gastric bypass that are used to combat obesity. Although gastric bypass is used for morbidly obese individuals, it has helped many conquer obesity, but also many have died following this operation. Gastric bypass is a procedure that either reduces the size of the stomach or tapes the intestines together. Which method is used will be determined by the surgeon according to the patient’s individual case.
Despite the numerous advantages that can come to someone who is obese after going through this procedure, the risks are life-threatening. In addition to the risks, if medical negligence is present during the gastric bypass surgery, the patient may not live to see another day. This type of surgery is extremely complex and requires a specific skill. When a gastric bypass surgery patient suffers an injury or the terrible fate of dying during or after the surgery and it is found that the main cause was from medical negligence, the victim or their family may establish a case for malpractice with a lawyer that is qualified to handle medical malpractice with gastric bypass surgeries in St. Petersburg.
Medical Negligence During Gastric Bypass Operation
This surgery in itself is already filled with risks and complications that could arise. Gastric bypass malpractice has been associated with the following medical negligences:
- Failure to treat complications after surgery like intestinal leakage
- Unskilled surgeon performing the operation
- Lack of proper screening of the patient
- Not advising the patient of all possible risks (informed consent)
Data on Gastric Bypass Operations
- Annually, about 196,000 operations for gastric bypass will be performed
- In about 30% of patient’s, morbid obesity is reduced following 5 years after this operation
- Everyone in three Americans is obese
- As of the year 2014, 14% of the entire world were obese
Throughout the years, modified foods, stressful lives, and other elements have led to the increase of obese individuals. With every complication or condition that arises in the health care system, the medical field has found ways to combat it like with gastric bypass. Yet, when these methods are not done properly and negligence is tied with it, the patient can endure extensive damages and even loss of life. Speaking with an attorney at Percy Martinez Gastric bypass malpractice St. Petersburg firm after becoming a victim of medical malpractice is the first step that should be done in order to receive compensation for all of the harms that have been caused to the gastric bypass patient.