Connecticut Weight Loss Surgery Malpractice Lawyer

Bariatric surgery is a general term that encompasses many different types of weight-loss surgical procedures. These surgeries provide benefits to many patients who wish to lose the weight they are unable to lose on their own. In many cases, successful weight loss surgeries provide previously unobtainable opportunities to live more active and healthier lives – as well as reduce the chances of illnesses and death caused by morbid obesity.

Despite the potential benefits of weight-loss surgical procedures, there are significant risks of complications and death. Approximately 10-20% of patients undergo corrective surgical procedures at some point following their initial weight-loss surgeries. Moreover, studies indicate that these risks are increased in men, those with disabilities related to their obesity, and elderly patients. A Connecticut weight loss surgery malpractice lawyer could provide more information.

Weight Loss Surgery and Malpractice

The unfortunate reality is that far too many patients hoping to drastically improve their lives suddenly find themselves facing the wrong kind of life-altering effects. Even worse is that medical malpractice causes a number of these negative results.

Our Connecticut medical malpractice lawyers represent individuals who suffer serious injuries and health complications following many varieties of weight-loss surgeries. If you or someone you love suffered a serious complication following a weight loss surgery performed at a Connecticut hospital, contact us for help today.

Gastric bypass surgery remains the most common type of weight loss surgery in the United States. However, there are many types of lesser-known weight loss surgeries that patients often undergo, including sleeve gastrectomy, adjustable gastric band placement, gastric balloon insertion, jejunoileal bypass, and more.

Injuries Associated with Bariatric and Other Weight-Loss Surgical Procedures

Injuries and complications related to weight loss surgeries occurring before, during, or following the procedures include the following:

  • Leaks (stomach, intestine, abdominal cavity)
  • Perforation of the stomach
  • Severe Infection
  • Intra-abdominal abscess
  • Bowel obstruction
  • Excessive internal bleeding
  • Organ injury
  • Blood clot(s)
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Gallstones
  • Abdominal hernias
  • Gastritis
  • Ulcers
  • Vitamin and nutritional deficiencies
  • Death
  • abdominal hernias, gallstones, a leak, infection, or deep thrombophlebitis

Causes of Weight Loss Medical Malpractice

Not all injuries suffered during weight loss surgeries are the result of medical malpractice. Sometimes, complications arise through no fault of the surgeon or medical team. However, even the most experienced bariatric surgeons are capable of medical malpractice.

Types of weight loss medical and surgical mistakes that may constitute medical malpractice leading to serious injuries include:

  • Insufficient experience performing the specific weight loss surgery
  • Failure to properly conduct pre-operative patient screens
  • Failure to properly counsel patients regarding all aspects of the surgery
  • Delay in diagnosis of complications
  • Misinterpreted vital signs
  • Failure to communicate
  • Injuring arteries or veins during the procedure
  • Cutting the wrong organs or structures
  • Failing to properly close segments of the stomach or bowel
  • Failure to recognize, diagnose, and/or treat a number of post-operative conditions, such as infection, leaking gastric fluid, gastric bleeding, and pulmonary embolisms
  • Failure to provide the patient with thorough and proper instructions for care following the procedure

Experience Bringing Weight Loss Medical Malpractice Cases is Critical

Medical malpractice cases – including those involving weight loss surgical procedures – are complex, difficult, and generally hotly contested by hospitals and their insurance companies. For these reasons and more,  the greatest chance of success in your weight loss surgery medical malpractice case largely depends on your decision to obtain the services of the most reputable and experienced legal team available.

This area of law is highly specialized and is subject to very specific rules and procedures. For example, Connecticut law mandates that before an attorney can initiate a medical malpractice lawsuit, he or she must first conduct a reasonable and thorough investigation to determine if, in good faith, a viable claim exists.

Our medical malpractice legal team is highly experienced and efficient in assessing potential cases, including those involving weight loss surgery.

When evaluating a case to determine whether a viable claim exists, our team extensively identifies, investigates and analyzes medical records, witness statements, and other evidence. We also review all applicable statutes and case law.

Moreover, we seek medical opinions regarding the following important factors that determine the likelihood of success in medical malpractice cases:

  • The specific and verified facts of the case
  • Causation of injuries
  • Most importantly, the applicable standard of medical care.

Our goal is to identify all possible legal theories that may apply to your specific circumstances. In that regard, we closely analyze current trends, case law, and best practices in this highly-specialized area of law.

Medical Standard of Care in Weight Loss Surgeries

In order to demonstrate that the injuries resulting from your weight loss surgery were directly caused by medical malpractice, one of the most important elements you must prove is that the surgeon (and/or anesthesiologist, nurse, hospital, etc.) failed to act in accordance with the applicable medical standard of care.

In other words, you must show, through expert medical opinions and testimony, that the defendant acted or failed to act in a manner that fell short and outside the scope of what other surgeons did or would have done in similar circumstances. Through this type of comparison and analysis, the defendant’s acts can be characterized as appropriate or inappropriate depending on the acceptable medical standard of care.

**Keep in mind that an injured party must prove that the defendant failed to abide by the applicable medical standard of care – IN ADDITION to all other required elements of a successful medical malpractice case.

Honest Assessment of your Case

At each stage of our investigation into the potential viability of your weight loss surgery medical malpractice case, we commit to providing you with only the most honest, insightful opinions and discoveries. We will candidly explain whether we can, in good faith, initiate litigation.

Many of Connecticut’s Hospitals Perform Weight Loss Surgeries

We have experience handling weight loss surgery medical malpractice cases involving a number of Connecticut’s hospitals. We are familiar with the quality of equipment, practices, procedures, and reputation of many of these facilities; and our medical experts have the first-hand experience with many surgeons and physicians.

The hospitals that perform bariatric procedures in Connecticut include:

  • Yale-New Haven Hospital
  • Griffin Hospital
  • Danbury Hospital
  • Greenwich Hospital
  • Norwalk Hospital
  • Stamford
  • St. Vincent’s Medical Center
  • Bridgeport
  • Bristol Hospital

Contact Connecticut Weight Loss Surgery Malpractice Attorneys Today

If you suffer from a serious complication following any type of bariatric surgical procedure, it is to your benefit to consult with a medical malpractice attorney experienced in this highly-specialized area of legal practice. Depending on the facts and circumstances of your unique and specific situation, you may have a viable medical malpractice claim; and you may be eligible for compensation.

If you feel confident or unsure that inadequate medical or surgical care before, during, or after your weight-loss surgical procedure caused your injuries – seek help from the proven medical malpractice law firm in CT at Berkowitz Hanna today.