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Mum died after weight loss op
Routine surgery ended in tragedy
A SINGLE mum died tragically after a routine operation to help her lose weight.
Suzanne Murphy, 29, of Brighouse, had a gastric bypass procedure but complications ensued and the mum-of-one was rushed back into surgery at least three times before she died four days later.
Her son Jacob is just five.
Ms Murphy, who was known to her family as Susan, is also survived by her mother Linda Richardson, 54, two sisters Lorraine, 37, of Lightcliffe, and Sheila, and a brother, Martin.
She is sister-in-law to Glynn and Jason and auntie to Cody and Lucy.
She went under the knife to have her stomach made smaller on October 31 and died in Huddersfield Royal Infirmary on November 4.
A funeral was held at St Matthew's Church, Lightcliffe, with a burial at Brighouse Cemetery.
A spokesman for the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust said: "Our condolences go to the family of Suzanne Murphy at this very sad time. The coroner was informed of her death in accordance with usual procedures."
Ms Murphy's family were too upset to speak.
Gastric bypass surgery, or gastrointestinal surgery, is usually considered a last resort for those who suffer from severe obesity.
It is thought to be the best option for people who have been unable to lose weight by the traditional methods of dieting and exercise.
Those considered for surgery have a body mass index of 40 or 35 if they have serious medical problems such as diabetes or high blood pressure. A body mass index of 20 to 25 is considered healthy.
There are two types of obesity surgery. The first is stomach banding, which restricts the amount of food a person can eat. The second is a gastric bypass, which restricts how much can be eaten and reduces how much of it is then absorbed.
Stephen Pollard, obesity surgeon based in Leeds, said Ms Murphy was not a patient of his, but people should be aware there were risks involved because it was major surgery on unhealthy people.
He said: "I have done nearly 2,000 operations and my mortality rate is 0.3, which means for every 300 patients, I have had one death. That is the lowest anywhere in the UK. The national rate is one in every 100.
"The risks of dying are less than the risks of dying from obesity related complications. Let's just say you are better doing it and taking a 1 per cent chance.
"About 30,000 die every year in the UK from obesity-related problems."
A Huddersfield coroner's officer confirmed Ms Murphy had died following the surgery. She said a post-mortem examination had already taken place and an inquest had been opened on November 9.
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