UAE | Health

Woman dies after weight-loss surgery

Family accuses hospital of negligence

  • By Aghaddir Ali, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 January 28, 2012
  • Gulf News

Surgery being performed
  • Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
  • A 27-year-old mother of three died after weight-loss surgery at a Sharjah hospital, her family members said. Picture for illustrative purposes only

Sharjah: A 27-year-old mother of three died after weight-loss surgery at a Sharjah hospital, her family members said.

Samah Mustafa had been suffering from knee and back pain for two years. She consulted doctors at Al Qasimi Hospital and they advised her to lose weight.

“

My daughter submitted to the surgery and 60 per cent of her stomach was cut out

”

Mother of Samah Mustafa

Samah's mother said her daughter, who weighed 96 kilograms, was advised by doctors to reduce her weight through stomach surgery. "My daughter submitted to the surgery and 60 per cent of her stomach was cut out," she said.

Bleeding in her stomach

Complications reportedly set in and there was bleeding in her stomach. "Doctors had to again operate to control the situation," the mother said.

She added that her daughter had to be taken to Al Mafraq Hospital, but unfortunately it got worse. "My daughter could not eat or drink anything. She weighed 40 kilograms when she died,"

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The family has accused doctors of negligence and said they will sue the hospital. Al Qasimi Hospital's administration has confirmed that the hospital carried out the surgery and followed up Samah's case from the beginning.

Dr Abdul Wahaid Mohammad Al Wahdawi, Deputy Technical Director at Al Qasimi Hospital, said Samah was advised about the side-effects of the surgey and she had accepted them.

"She had agreed to allow a French visiting doctor to do the operation. After a few days after the operation, she suffered some complications and had to be operated upon again. Al Qasimi Hospital arranged with Al Mafraq Hospital to transfer Samah there, he said.

Comments (8)

  1. Added 17:17 January 28, 2012

    Sad to hear this, Gastric bypass surgery is very common these days and a lot of people take it. But like any surgery there are risks and hospitals always make you sign papers that tell you if you die they are not responsible. I do wish however since she was young only 27 years she shouldn't have taken the easy way out. I used to be 150KGs, after 2 years i am 125KGs, i am still working on it but i'm getting there. I was oferred surgery many many times but thankfully i stayed strong and refused. It is not easy and you suffer a lot, but it pays off on the long run.

    James, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  2. Added 17:16 January 28, 2012

    There are many other ways of weight loss then why people go for Shortcuts..

    Saleh Al Balushi, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

  3. Added 16:49 January 28, 2012

    I feel sorry for the family, how they lost their child. :( people there are so many ways for losing weight. Whoever wants to lose weight do not go and say i will get surgery. it is so hard, go find another way. the best way is to exercise. You can do this in many diffrent ways like walking.

    Anonymous, RAK, United Arab Emirates

  4. Added 16:01 January 28, 2012

    I am very upset by hearing this news, before taking any surgery we should think many times, if no other way than we have to go for surgery. There are so many ways to lose weight, Doctors must be very, very professional in the matter of any surgery, should learn the Doctor's & hospital's previous records before going for any surgery. Life is very precious, every person should walk at least 45 mts very day in order to lose weight.

    Ali, Dubai, India

  5. Added 14:33 January 28, 2012

    People dont want to do things the hard way. They would always look at ways of getting out easily. It seems the women did not do proper consultation before taking the next step. What has happened to all of us walking and jogging? Dont tell me thats out dated and not in style any more. For those who are not comfortable with excersising outside there are many other ways of reducing your weight by working out at home. People rely on taking pills, tummy fit oil, belt, etc and they think that they will lose weight easily. Its easy to gain weight but hard to reduce.

    Mathew Litty, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  6. Added 14:16 January 28, 2012

    I donot understand why people look in to short cut measures to loose the desireable weight. Brisk walking and cardio-vascular exercises are the best way to loose weight. My hearty condolence to the family

    Abdul, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

  7. Added 12:18 January 28, 2012

    im feeling very upset for Samah because of neligilence she died. life is too impotant for everyone & Doctors should be professional in these kinds of cases. its a life not a joke. now we cannot trust on doctors as well. :(

    maryam Mohammad, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  8. Added 12:10 January 28, 2012

    My condolences to the family for having to lose their precious daughter in such a way. I dont know whether it was a misfortune of a chain of bad luck or some other cause that led to her passing away. I had done the same surgery 2.5 years ago (gastric sleeve) in which i lost 100 kgs. i used to weigh 165kgs before i had the operation, and after 1 year (and till this day) of weight loss, i weigh 65kgs and had 2 side effects at the beginning which were due to lack of vitamins in my body and low blood pressure. thankfully do not have any issue with vitamin deficiency anymore but still have low blood pressure. agian, a chain of misfortunes occured for the girl and my condolences to the family.

    Anonymous, Abu dhabi, United Arab Emirates

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