Gastric bypass lawsuits are on the rise. It is estimated that over 90,000 people will have gastric bypass surgery to treat obesity and that 1 in 200 gastric bypass patients will die, which is close to twice the rate of other major surgeries with similar complexity.

Gastric Bypass Surgery can sometimes be a life-threatening procedure involving the reduction of the stomach pouch to a pouch about one ounce or less in size and the creating of a stoma which is a small opening between the intestine and the stomach. The resulting smaller stomach pouch achieves a quicker sensation of fullness after eating; therefore you eat less because you become full quicker due to the smaller size of your stomach. You also stay full longer as the stoma delays the emptying of the stomach.

Although the procedure might sound simple and not as invasive as other major surgeries, Gastric Bypass Operations still involve cutting and reconnection of tissues in which problems can arise. Gastric Bypass Malpractice is occurring all too often as doctors and medical facilities are failing to properly access the early signs of trouble resulting in Gastric Bypass Negligence such as the leakage of gastrointestinal juices from the sutures or staple lines. Gastrointestinal Leakage can be very dangerous resulting in serious infection, abscess, peritonitis, and sometimes death.

Other complications that can occur during a Gastric Bypass procedure include pulmonary emboli (blood clot in the lungs) and respiratory failure which can result in death. Post operation problems can include kidney problems, gallstones, hernia, and small bowel obstruction.

Gastric Bypass Surgery pain should subside significantly by the second day after surgery, however if back pain, shoulder pain, excessive urination, and difficulty breathing occurs, a Gastrointestinal Leakage could be suspected and should not be overlooked.

Signs of Gastric Bypass Surgery Medical Malpractice include, but are not limited to:

Inexperienced doctors, some performing surgery after only taking a weekend seminar.

Surgery occurred in a facility lacking appropriately sized equipment such as diagnostic tools, instruments, and operating tables for an obese person.

Excessive pain after a Gastric Bypass Surgery

Serious complications occur such as clotting, kidney problems, and respiratory problems

Doctors failed to respond in an efficient manner when a patient complained of symptoms indicating gastrointestinal leakage or other complications resulting in death.

Physicians performing too many surgeries in a day, resulting in fatigue and essentially putting patients at risk.

Failure to educate the patient and their family of all the risks associated with a Gastric Bypass surgery and failing to educate them on post operation surgery.