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Bariatric surgeries, including gastric bypasses and other operations on the stomach or intestines to facilitate rapid weight loss, have become increasingly common over the past several years. While most of these procedures are relatively low-risk compared to other types of surgery, no surgical procedure is completely without risk. This is especially true if the physicians performing the surgery or providing post-operative care do not meet the required standards of care.
If you have experienced serious complications—that your physician did not warn you about in advance—from a recent weight loss operation due to your doctor’s misconduct, a Philadelphia bariatric surgery lawyer can advise you on your legal options. You may be able to sue for compensation for every negative effect your physician’s negligence has had or will have on you. The support of a seasoned medical malpractice attorney from Lowenthal & Abrams will be vital to achieving the best possible outcome.
What Standard of Care Do Bariatric Surgeons Owe to Patients?
Regardless of whether they are providing life-saving care in the emergency room or performing voluntary cosmetic surgery in their own private clinic, the Commonwealth expects all licensed healthcare practitioners to adhere to a high standard of care. More specifically, when actively providing care to patients, all doctors should act as other equally qualified and experienced doctors would.
Examples of bariatric surgery errors that could potentially serve as grounds for a malpractice lawsuit include:
- Maintaining unsanitary conditions in medical facilities, leading to infections
- Performing a procedure in a way that does not align with established standards
- Ignoring patient symptoms that may indicate complications
- Failing to review a patient’s chart for allergies, contraindications, or other factors that might complicate the procedure
- Not providing instructions for post-operative care and wound management
During a private initial consultation, a seasoned Philadelphia attorney can review the specifics of your bariatric surgery complications and determine whether you have a valid civil claim.
Seeking Compensation for Short- and Long-Term Losses
Depending on what type of harm you sustained due to your surgeon’s professional misconduct, you may be able to claim compensation for both economic and non-economic harm stemming from that misconduct, including medical bills, lost work income, and physical pain and suffering. You may also be able to demand restitution for any expected future harm you anticipate experiencing due to your injuries, such as a permanent loss of working capacity or a decline in your overall quality of life.
Fortunately, Pennsylvania law imposes no cap on recoverable losses through medical malpractice claims, so it is possible to claim the full lifetime value of losses resulting from your doctor’s negligence. Identifying and accurately valuing all your compensable losses in a weight loss surgery malpractice case can be challenging without guidance from a knowledgeable and experienced Philadelphia lawyer.
Speak With a Philadelphia Bariatric Surgery Attorney About Your Legal Options
Even though gastric bypasses and other bariatric surgeries are typically elective procedures, it does not mean that the surgeons who perform them can afford to be reckless or careless. If your surgeon caused you to suffer serious physical harm through their failure to perform the procedure properly or provide sufficient post-operative treatment, you may be due substantial civil compensation for your ensuing losses.
The legal team at Lowenthal & Abrams has extensive experience helping people like you secure favorable outcomes in such cases. Once you retain their services, they will utilize that experience to help you receive the compensation you deserve. Call today to learn how a Philadelphia bariatric surgery lawyer can help you proceed with your claim.
