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If you are struggling with obesity-related health problems and have not been able to lose weight through traditional means, a gastric bypass operation can be a very effective way to reduce your caloric intake. This form of bariatric surgery involves dramatically reducing the size of your stomach and connecting it directly to your small intestine, so you do not need as much food to feel full. It is a fairly low-risk operation when performed correctly by qualified medical professionals.
Unfortunately, as any experienced medical malpractice attorney can tell you, serious surgical errors and other lapses in the standard of care for surgeons and their assistants are not nearly as uncommon as they should be. If you were injured or are dealing with severe complications because your doctors failed to provide adequate care to you during or after your operation, you should strongly consider speaking with a Philadelphia gastric bypass malpractice lawyer from Lowenthal & Abrams about the possibility of filing suit.
How Medical Misconduct Can Cause Gastric Bypass Problems
While gastric bypass is generally considered to be a safe procedure, some patients may still experience complications after receiving this surgery, even if their physicians were diligent and skillful in their care. For example, some gastric bypass recipients experience what is known as dumping syndrome, which entails food emptying into their small intestine too quickly after eating—even though their surgery was performed correctly, and other patients may experience issues such as pulmonary embolism or digestive fluids leaking from their stomach into their abdominal cavity.
Therefore, the existence of complications from gastric bypass cannot necessarily justify a malpractice lawsuit all on its own. However, if you experienced physical harm specifically because your surgeon performed the gastric bypass surgery incorrectly, because you were not given sufficient nutritional instructions after surgery, or because your doctors failed to promptly diagnose and treat surgical complications, a Philadelphia attorney may be able to help you sue.
What Damages Might Be Recoverable Through a Gastric Bypass Malpractice Claim?
Through a successful lawsuit or settlement demand over medical negligence leading to serious injuries or illnesses, it is possible to recover for both economic and non-economic forms of harm, such as:
- Costs of additional medical care needed to treat malpractice-related complications
- Lost work income and long-term working capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and distress
- Decline in overall enjoyment and quality of life
Fortunately, Pennsylvania differs from many other states in that it does not impose artificial caps on the amount of money you can seek for damages stemming from medical malpractice. This means you can recover in advance for every negative impact your doctors’ misconduct will ever have on your life. However, identifying and estimating the fair value of those losses can be prohibitively difficult without the support of an experienced gastric bypass malpractice attorney in Philadelphia.
Speak With a Philadelphia Attorney at Our Firm for Help Pursuing a Gastric Bypass Malpractice Claim
Complications from gastric bypass can be physically uncomfortable at best and potentially life-threatening at worst, so doctors have a legal obligation to minimize their patients’ risk of experiencing these complications to the fullest extent possible. If your doctors failed to meet that standard with your surgery, you may have grounds to seek civil restitution from them and possibly their employer for the consequences their actions will have on you.
Assistance from a Philadelphia gastric bypass malpractice lawyer can be vital to achieving the best possible outcome from this type of claim. Call Lowenthal & Abrams today to set up your free initial consultation.
