Syracuse Gastric Bypass Malpractice Lawyer

Did you experience complications from gastric bypass surgery? Being your advocate should start long before ever contacting an attorney regarding a medical malpractice claim. When it comes to your health, you must be proactive, especially when serious complications arise after bariatric surgery. A Syracuse Gastric Bypass malpractice lawyer might be worth talking with.

Even if your surgeon does not contact you about post-operative complications, changes in your condition should never be ignored. Let’s dive more into why you might want to talk to a gastric bypass malpractice lawyer and a team about your options.

Gastric Bypass Surgery Statistics

According to medical literature and bariatric surgery research, the statistics surrounding gastric bypass procedures in the United States reveal important patterns:

• About 62,097 gastric bypass surgeries were performed in 2022, accounting for approximately 22% of all bariatric procedures

• Major complications occur in about 3.6% of gastric bypass procedures, with serious complications being most common after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

• The mortality rate for gastric bypass surgery is approximately 0.14%, though this can vary significantly based on hospital volume and surgeon experience

• 47% of bariatric surgery malpractice claims involve delayed diagnosis or management of postoperative complications

The rate of gastric bypass surgeries has remained relatively stable, but the complexity of post-operative care has increased. Studies show that surgeon and hospital volume significantly impact complication rates, with higher-volume centers reporting better outcomes.

Types of Gastric Bypass Procedures

There are several main types of gastric bypass surgeries, each with different benefits, risks, and potential complications:

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: This is the most common type of gastric bypass surgery, accounting for 76% of bariatric procedures involved in malpractice litigation. It involves creating a small stomach pouch and rerouting the small intestine to reduce food absorption.

Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass: This minimally invasive technique uses small incisions and specialized instruments, typically resulting in faster recovery times but requiring significant surgeon expertise.

Open Gastric Bypass: The traditional surgical approach through a larger abdominal incision, sometimes necessary for complex cases or when laparoscopic surgery is not feasible.

These procedures each have different potential complications and recovery requirements, making proper patient selection and post-operative monitoring crucial for patient safety.

Delayed Diagnosis of Gastric Bypass Complications Can Have Serious Consequences

Unfortunately, gastric bypass complications can be misdiagnosed or their severity underestimated if warning signs and symptoms are ignored. This is why it is important to stress that patients who have received inadequate post-operative care or experienced unrecognized complications should consult a gastric bypass malpractice lawyer immediately.

Delays in diagnosing gastric bypass complications can have devastating results. Complications that go undiagnosed can lead to permanent disability, the need for multiple corrective surgeries, or even death. The most common complications include:

• Anastomotic leaks – the leading cause of malpractice claims, occurring when surgical connections fail

• Internal bleeding and hemorrhage requiring emergency intervention

• Nutritional deficiencies, particularly vitamin B1 deficiency that can cause permanent brain damage

• Strictures requiring balloon dilation procedures that carry their own risks

• Dumping syndrome from inadequate dietary counseling and follow-up care

• Gallbladder complications requiring additional surgical procedures

Misdiagnosis or delayed treatment can shorten your life expectancy and significantly impact your quality of life. The goal of successful weight loss becomes secondary to managing preventable complications.

Janet Izzo and Josh Gillette of Gillette & Izzo Law Office are not just legal advocates – they understand that gastric bypass malpractice cases require extensive medical knowledge. They will encourage you to play an active role in your health and your medical malpractice claim. Documenting complications, treatments, and other medical procedures provides you with not only important medical records but also facts that strengthen a gastric bypass malpractice claim.

Knowledge comes from understanding your medical care. Knowledge is power when dealing with surgical complications.

New York state statutes of limitations exist for medical malpractice claims under New York Civil Practice Law & Rules § 214-A. Under New York law, medical malpractice actions must generally be commenced within two years and six months of the act complained of. Janet Izzo and Josh Gillette combine their knowledge of New York medical malpractice statutes with extensive experience in surgical complication claims. Time is of the essence. Take action by making one phone call to our firm.

Contact a Syracuse Gastric Bypass Malpractice Lawyer

Following gastric bypass complications or suspected medical negligence, you likely have questions about your legal choices. New York’s medical malpractice laws provide specific protections for patients who have been harmed by substandard medical care. Under New York Public Health Law Article 28, hospitals have specific obligations for patient care and safety monitoring.

 Janet Izzo and Josh Gillette combine their knowledge of statutes and laws with extensive experience in medical malpractice claims. Time is of the essence. Take action by making one phone call to our firm.

Discuss your situation with a lawyer at Gillette and Izzo Law Office in Syracuse by calling 315-421-1000, or you can contact us through our online form.

We represent our clients with gastric bypass malpractice claims on a contingency fee basis. You only pay legal fees if we recover compensation in your case. Our experience includes cases involving:

• Failure to properly screen surgical candidates

• Inadequate post-operative monitoring and care

• Delayed diagnosis of anastomotic leaks and other complications

• Nutritional counseling malpractice leading to deficiency syndromes

• Surgical technique errors during the procedure

• Hospital negligence in complication management