Negligence cases mount, sparking calls for stricter regulation of weight-loss surgeries

Daily Tribune

31-01-2025

Calls for stricter regulation of gastric bypass surgeries have intensified after a patient was left unable to eat or drink due to severe complications stemming from medical negligence during the procedure.
In 2023, a young man had died from complications following a similar surgery.
The case this year, heard by the Cassation Court, follows a series of troubling incidents, including the court's dismissal of a GCC doctor's appeal against a three-year prison sentence for his role in the death of a 29-year-old Bahraini man after a similar operation.
Medical oversight in weightloss surgeries has been under scrutiny, with experts warning that lax enforcement of surgical protocols can lead to devastating consequences for patients.
The latest case highlights critical gaps in safety standards, as a private hospital's attending physician failed to use a standard measuring tube during the procedure, an essential tool that ensures precision and reduces the risk of complications.
The patient in the latest case, who had sought the surgery to improve her health, soon developed persistent nausea, vomiting, and a blockage at the gastric opening.
Her condition deteriorated to the point that even a pen tip could not pass through the constricted area between her oesophagus and small intestine.
'I returned to the hospital to report my distress. Unfortunately, the doctor displayed a careless attitude and told me that everything would be fine. Therefore, I went back home,' she said.
When her symptoms worsened, she filed a formal complaint, prompting an investigation by the Public Prosecution. A technical committee appointed by the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) confirmed that the doctor had failed to follow standard surgical protocols, directly causing the patient's injuries.
The Public Prosecution charged the doctor with medical negligence on January 14, 2019.
The court sentenced him to six months in prison, imposed a BD200 bail for suspension of the sentence, and ordered his deportation.
However, an appeal to the High Appeals Court resulted in the prison term being replaced with a BD200 fine.
A further appeal was then made to the Court of Cassation.
Fatal Oversight
In June 2023, the Public Prosecution had charged two doctors in the death of the young Bahraini man who sought a similar medical operation to improve his body shape and quality of life.
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the deceased's father, alleging medical negligence by the doctors during the gastric sleeve surgery.
Investigations into the case concluded that the surgical consultant performing the gastric sleeve surgery and the doctor supervising the patient's condition after the procedure were both responsible for the death.
A technical committee on medical and ethical errors found that the surgical consultant had committed medical errors during the surgery and subsequent procedures, including delays in addressing the errors, negligence in monitoring the patient's condition, and failure to provide adequate care.
The supervising doctor was also found to have violated medical protocols for intensive care unit management and failed to take necessary medical actions, which could have prevented the death.
These cases highlight the urgent need for stricter regulations and oversight in weightloss surgeries to prevent further avoidable suffering and loss of life.