Weight-loss surgery death: Probe begins

Ras Al Khaimah - Ras Al Khaimah Medical Zone initiates investigation

The Ras Al Khaimah Education Zone has initiated an investigation after a young Palestinian man died two weeks after a weight loss surgery in the northern emirate.

Dr Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Director of the RAK Medical Zone, said Akram Hamdan Hassan proved to have been suffering postoperative complications after the surgery in a local hospital here on May 12.

"The a 38-year-old victim was in a critical condition when he was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Saqr hospital early on Thursday morning when he was suffering pains in his stomach."

The patient was suffering acute circulatory failure, he added. "The duty doctors tried hard to succinate him for two hours, but it was too late as he had a heart attack, and died thereafter on the same day."

Noting, he said the 245kg victim approached the Saqr hospital four times last year to get a weight-loss surgery done, but his request was denied as he was not in proper health condition and did not meet the set conditions for the operation.

"A patient must be maximum 170kg to be subjected to such a life-threatening surgery to remain safe during and after the operation," he stated. "Further blood tests, check-ups, and preparations are inevitable, as well."

However, Akram resorted to another hospital where he was alerted about the risks, Dr Nuaimi pointed out. "His family even submitted an undertaking in which he confirmed his awareness about the possible complications, and that he took full responsibility for the same."

A medical source with the hospital, where Akram had the weight-loss surgery said the patient was only 217kg when he approached the hospital for the surgery. "However, he met all the conditions due for the operation, particularly as his excessive obesity was threatening his life."

He was totally enlightened about the details of the surgery and possible complications, he added. "The patient was not suffering any side effects after the operation, and was thus discharged in good and stable condition five days later."

Hamdan Hassan, the father of the deceased, said he would file a lawsuit against the surgeon who carried out the operation. "The surgeon turned a blind eye to the warnings of the Saqr hospital, and did the operation despite the fatal risk."

The doctor had given him only a one-week anti-clotting injection though he was supposed to be given the 15-day one as is the case in other hospitals. "Therefore, my son had a stroke two weeks later."

The distraught father said his son, a father of three kids including a new baby girl, was not asked to take a sick leave or warned against driving. He drove to Dubai to renew his residency visa just few days after the operation.

"The hospital has recklessly failed to guide him to the right food that suits his case after the surgery, and did not keep him under close observation for two weeks after the operation as due."

Mohammed Hamdan said he was staying with his brother from the very beginning and until he breathed his last on Thursday at 11.30am.

In tears, he added that obesity was like 'hell' to his late brother whose job as a salesman with a RAK auto showroom was badly affected. "Walking and sleeping were also a big issue for him, as he could only sleep while sitting, and thus he decided to take the risk and do the surgery."

The distressed brother said none of the family members was aware of Saqr hospital's refusal and warnings about the operation due to its possible serious complications. "We only knew about that from the nurses there when we shifted him in critical condition on Thursday."

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Ras Al Khaimah