A leading obesity surgeon has warned about having surgery, particularly bariatric or weight loss surgery, abroad, saying it is a “very dangerous undertaking”.
Colm O’Boyle said there is growing concern in the Irish surgical community that the complications and mortality rates related to surgery abroad is much higher than here in Ireland.
A consultant laparoscopy and bariatric surgeon at Bon Secours Hospital in Cork, Mr O’Boyle said while there are no official figures “we suspect it is considerably higher than it should be”.
He issued his warning following the inquest into the deaths of two women who died having travelled abroad for surgery.
Mr O’Boyle was speaking before verdicts were returned at inquests into the deaths of women who travelled abroad for surgery.
Cork City Coroner Philip Comyn said he had invited the consultant to give his professional opinion on the hazards of undergoing surgery abroad as the court was hearing inquests which had two things in common “their tragic deaths, and that they arose following surgery abroad”.
“My purpose is not to cast aspersions on treatments abroad but to make people aware that if they go for certain treatments abroad, they need to go with their eyes open,” Mr Comyn said.
Mr Comyn said he thinks these cases highlight the danger of going abroad for this type of elective procedures, particularly in the light of how they would be handled here. They also highlight the difficulties when you go abroad, the level of care may vary from hospital to hospital, country to country.
“Ultimately it is a decision for the individuals themselves, but people need to be aware of the risks involved when they go abroad for this type of surgery. I am concerned that people should know the nature of the risks involved and discuss it here with the relevant medical personnel,” he said.
Addressing the court, Mr O’Boyle said there are many hazards including most medical tourism being based in non-English speaking countries, encouraged by low cost and shortened waiting times for surgery.
He said the selection process appears to be based on ability to pay rather than on medical appropriateness.
The emphasis he said is on the surgical procedure and “often very little advice or care is given regarding the appropriate pre-operative selection and work-up and the post operative follow-up”.
He said there are extensive guidelines governing such surgery here.
“There is ample anecdotal evidence of substandard care in this regard from Irish based patients’ accounts. There is also ample anecdotal evidence suggestive of questionable operative techniques.”
He said complications occur in the best of hands following major surgery. If they occur following major surgery abroad there is an increased risk of patient harm due to blood clots, sepsis and bleeding.
Mr O’Boyle said if there is a delay in treating complications, the likelihood of death becomes very high.
If they (the complications) manifest when the patient arrives back in Ireland, he said, “the appropriate expertise to deal with them may not be easily accessible”.
