GASTRIC BAND MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE COMPENSATION CLAIM SOLICITORS
Weight loss surgery has been carried out for decades however recent improvement in technique has lead to over 10,000 gastric bands being fitted every year with varying degrees of success. According to insurers the incidence of post-operative infection, leakage and technical difficulties in maintaining placement of these biomedical devices used to reduce stomach capacity has lead to a massive increase in the numbers of gastric band medical negligence cases. Bariatric surgery in itself is not without problems due to the overall risk of giving anaesthetic to clinically obese patients who are often elderly and this of itself may cause fatalities some of which can be considered to be negligent, due to failure to properly asses risk after consideration of the patients physical condition prior to weight loss surgery.
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Clinical Errors
It is estimated that over 5,000 patients have weight loss surgery carried out privately and in excess of 4,000 procedures are dealt with by the NHS with numerous gastric band medical negligence compensation claims reaching the courts every year. Reasons for the increase in compensation claims after bariatric surgery include inadequate surgical technique, negligent aftercare and failure by doctors to fully explain the risks of the operation. Whilst not all cases involving gastric band medical negligence are life threatening there have nevertheless been an unacceptable number of deaths following bariatric surgery. The Medical Defence Union who insure most doctors estimate that the current value of weight loss surgery claims ranges from £2,500 to £500,000, the most serious of which result from death caused by post operative infection.
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Increase in Overall Numbers
The problem of gastric band medical negligence compensation claims is not expected to improve due to the extreme pressure on doctors to relieve the rising incidence of obesity, in consideration of the fact that over one million Britons have a body mass index in excess of 40 thereby qualifying for the operations most basic criteria. Whilst each operation costs the NHS almost £7,000 it is though to be a cheaper alternative than treating obesity which on average costs the NHS over £2,000 per annum. Whilst techniques will improve and negligence rates will decrease, the overall numbers of gastric band medical negligence cases will continue to increase due to the increased incidence of those undergoing bariatric surgery.
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Specialist Lawyers
Our specialist clinical negligence solicitors have detailed experience in dealing with gastric band compensation claims. They are all members of the Solicitors Regulation Authority panel of clinical negligence experts for which less than 1% of solicitors qualify. They are able to offer no win no fee or legal aid to qualifying applicants who have suffered from the negative effects of weight loss surgery. If you would like free advice without obligation just email, complete the contact form of use the helpline to speak to UK lawyers who specialise in personal injury compensation claims.