Five people have been rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead after having Lap-Band surgery. The Lap-Band is a silicone ring that is surgically implanted around the stomach. It discourages overeating by making the stomach smaller. Several medical malpractice lawsuits have been filed, including a lawsuit seeking class-action status. Lawsuits are against a marketing firm, several surgery centers and doctors. The lawsuit accuses marketing firm 1-800-GET-THIN of false advertising, because it allegedly does not warn people about the risks of the surgery.

Two lawsuits are seeking a wrongful death verdict against the marketing firm. The Lap-Band is manufactured by Irvine-based Allergan, Inc., which is not associated with the marketing firm. Surgeries range in cost from $12,000 to approximately $20,000, and may even be covered by insurance in some cases. Doctors Julian and Michael Omidi, brothers, were allegedly part of a joint venture between the surgery centers and the 1-800-GET-THIN marketing firm, according to the wrongful death lawsuits. The medical board previously disciplined both brothers in unrelated issues.

Michael Omidi is listed in a government filing as a California outpatient center's owner - the same center that performed surgery on another patient who died just after having Lap-Band surgery.

If you have had Lap-Band surgery and have suffered an illness or disability because of the surgery, or if a friend or relative died because of the surgery, contact an experienced Ohio medical malpractice firm to discuss your case. You may be entitled to a settlement or a judgment for yourself or on behalf of a friend or loved one.

Related Resource: Los Angeles Times, "Another patient dies after Lap-Band surgery" Sept. 23, 2011