Gastric bypass surgery under probe - Ministry

Rasika Somarathna

The Health Ministry has initiated an investigation into gastric bypass surgery procedures at the Kalubowila Hospital following a death of a woman after surgery.

Ministry sources denied speculation that a second death of a woman at the Colombo National Hospital was related to the same surgical procedure and added that the patient had died due to complications following a Hernia operation.

A 28-year-old woman from Ratnapura died five days after undergoing a gastric bypass surgery at the Kalubowila Hospital and another death occurred at the Colombo National Hospital, reportedly following a hernia operation in which relatives had accused hospital authorities of negligence.

Both deaths are being investigated, a Health Ministry spokesman said.