Gastric Bypass Error Death Prompts Lawsuit

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March 20th, 2007

"Gastric Bypass Error Suit"

The mother of a 520-pound woman who died after a gastric bypass error her has filed a lawsuit against the operating surgeon and the hospital in which she had the procedure performed.

The lawsuit filed by Colleen Shepherd claims that surgeon Dr. Younan Nowzaradan and the Houston Community Hospital negligently failed to appropriately warn her daughter Tina Shepherd, 31, that the surgery posed serious risks for a woman of her weight.

The Claim

Since her daughter died, Colleen Shepherd was “going back and forth in terms of whether to pursue legal action, but she now has a renewed vigor” after the media coverage of the death of another woman who had a gastric bypass surgery performed by the same doctor.

Reenee Williams, 841 lbs, died of a heart attack less than two weeks after Dr. Nowzaradan performed a gastric bypass procedure on her.

“The mother is saying that Tina was not prompted from a psychological standpoint to know the risks involved when you are grossly overweight,” said Colleen Shepherd's attorney, Otha T. Carpenter.

Tina died of complications from the surgery, including blood poisoning and liver failure. The suit claims that the doctor and hospital also failed to recognize Shepherd's health problems following the surgery.

“Tina suffered a series of complications in the year after the surgery,” said Carpenter. “She often threw up, she couldn't eat and she walked with a cane. Before the surgery, she was overweight but sort of sprightly and could move around with her kids.

Discipline?

According to spokesperson for the Texas Medical Board, Jill Wiggins, Nowzaradan was not subjected to any disciplinary action.

“Whether or not we would open an investigation based on these incidents would not be public at this time,” said Wiggins.

Victim of a gastric bypass error? Please contact us today for a complimentary consultation with an experienced and caring medical malpractice attorney. We may be able to help you recover compensation for your medical expenses, pain, suffering, and more.