Abstract
Abstract
Purpose of review
To evaluate the current state of bariatric medicolegal activity and explore the reasons of litigation in bariatric surgery. The underlying legal principles in bariatric medicolegal cases and most frequent pitfalls will also be discussed.
Recent findings
There is a growing number of litigations in bariatric surgery, particularly relating to complications and long waiting lists for bariatric surgery within the public-funded health systems. The main issues are related to consent, lack of follow-up, delayed identification of complications and lack of appropriate emergency management of complications, involving bariatric surgeons, clinicians, general practitioners and multidisciplinary team members. Appropriate multidisciplinary involvement pre- and postoperatively and robust follow-up protocols can help to mitigate the risks.
Summary
Bariatric surgery requires a unique paradigm with a multidisciplinary approach both pre- and postoperatively to improve the long-term functional outcomes of patients. There is a rising incidence of medicolegal claims following bariatric surgery. The underlying reasons for this are multifactorial including an increase in the volume of surgery, high patient expectations, the incidence of long-term postoperative complications and the requirement of long-term follow-up.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Reference39 articles.
1. Kitahara CM, Flint AJ, Berrington de Gonzalez A, Bernstein L, Brotzman M, MacInnis RJ, et al. Association between class III obesity (BMI of 40-59 kg/m2) and mortality: a pooled analysis of 20 prospective studies. PLoS Med. 2014;11(7):e1001673.
2. • (NICE). NIfHaCE. Obesity: clinical assessment and management. 2016 2016 [Outlines the criteria for making a referral for bariatric surgery as well as defines quality measures, structure and process within service and outcome of bariatric surgery.]. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs127/chapter/quality-statement-5-referring-adults-for-bariatric-surgery-assessment. Outlines the criteria for making a referral for bariatric surgery as well as defines quality measures, structure and process within service and outcome of bariatric surgery.
3. Miras AD, Kamocka A, Patel D, Dexter S, Finlay I, Hopkins JC, et al. Obesity surgery makes patients healthier and more functional: real world results from the United Kingdom National Bariatric Surgery Registry. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2018;14(7):1033–40.
4. Carlsson LMS, Sjoholm K, Jacobson P, Andersson-Assarsson JC, Svensson PA, Taube M, et al. Life expectancy after bariatric surgery in the swedish obese subjects study. N Engl J Med. 2020;383(16):1535–43.
5. Vilallonga R, Pereira-Cunill JL, Morales-Conde S, Alarcon I, Breton I, Dominguez-Adame E, et al. A Spanish society joint SECO and SEEDO approach to the post-operative management of the patients undergoing surgery for obesity. Obes Surg. 2019;29(12):3842–53.
Cited by
2 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献