Allegations of Negligence Elsewhere in the Weight Loss Industry Draw a Reaction from a Reputable Bariatric Surgeon

Dr. Feiz & Associates reacts with dismay to news that other surgical centers have been accused of negligence during the popular LAP-BAND procedure

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Dr. Feiz & Associates

Jan 18, 2012, 07:34 ET

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Feiz & Associates is encouraging more accountability and transparency in the weight loss industry. This plea from a bariatric surgeon with a reputation for high safety standards comes as workers at other centers are coming forward with allegations of serious negligence and a possible cover-up after the death of a patient undergoing the LAP-BAND procedure. If true, this behavior does a genuine disservice to people struggling with morbid obesity and looking for proven solutions, because in the hands of capable and responsible surgeons, the LAP-BAND can be a powerful tool for weight loss.

The surgery centers in question were associated with a marketing campaign that has already drawn fire from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for allegedly misinforming the public about the potential risks of the LAP-BAND procedure. A recent lawsuit alleges that, among other things, a patient's oxygen tube shut off in mid-operation, that a tube delivering pain medication to the patient's bloodstream was dislodged, and that alarms reporting the patient's dangerous drop in blood pressure were ignored. Moreover, the lawsuit alleges that attempts were made to replace the faulty equipment before an investigation into the patient's death could be made, and that people involved were asked by their superiors to withhold vital information.

These allegations underscore how important it is for patients to be diligent in choosing where they go for the LAP-BAND procedure. There are weight loss surgery centers, like Dr. Feiz & Associates, that have a proven track record with bariatric surgeries ranging from the LAP-BAND to Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass. Of course, there are always possible complications when it comes to major surgery, and any responsible physician will first outline all the potential benefits and risks, not just for the LAP-BAND, but for all possible treatments. Nevertheless, serious negligence of the kind alleged in this lawsuit is totally unacceptable, and frankly, totally avoidable. Patients deserve better, and they can find better, with surgeons with reputations for consistently exceptional patient care.

ABOUT DR. FEIZ & ASSOCIATES
Dr. Feiz & Associates is one of the safest and most consistently successful multidisciplinary bariatric surgical programs for the treatment of obesity and associated diseases. All surgeons at Dr. Feiz and Associates are Fellowship Trained Surgeons who are certified in the field of Bariatric Surgery. The doctors at this medical center place a priority on pre-operative medical and cardiological assessment and clearance, in addition to pre- and post-operative behavioral modification. Dr. Feiz & Associates has a sterling record of consistent safety and consistent success. Their doctors have performed thousands of these procedures without a single mortality, and maintain a complication rate of less than 1%, substantially lower than the national average of 3-4%. For more information, visit www.drfeiz.com.

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