For years, people wished there was a drug that could help them lose weight quickly and with minimal effort. In recent years, a new category of drugs has created opportunity for those who want to lose weight but have struggled to do so through conventional methods.
Injectable weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy have become incredibly popular. These drugs are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. These drugs prompt the body to produce more insulin and also help regulate the sense of hunger and fullness a patient experiences.
The use of these medications has become so trendy that those who rely on Ozempic to control type 2 diabetes may have a hard time accessing the medication reliably. Patients may go to their doctor seeking out a prescription for one of these injectable weight loss medications. All too often, physicians rush into recommending such medication without obtaining truly informed consent from patients.
The side effects can be worse than people realize
Doctors should warn their patients about side effects, risks and success rates when recommending a potentially risky course of treatment. Part of obtaining informed consent involves educating patients about the potential side effects that a medication could cause. In the case of Ozempic and Wegovy, some of the known side effects are of significant concern.
Patients may experience constipation, diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain. They are also at risk of hypoglycemia, fatigue, headache, heartburn and increased anxiety. Some of the more serious side effects include gallstones, diabetic retinopathy, cyclical vomiting, kidney disease, thyroid cancer, pancreatitis and even a dangerously elevated heart rate. They may also be at risk of regaining most of what they lose if they cease treatment.
Unfortunately, some physicians do not have the patience to communicate with their patients about the potential risks of certain medical decisions. They may simply have a patient sign and informed consent documents without actually discussing the risks. They might also just hand their patient a pamphlet and expect them to glean the necessary information from that one piece of paper.
Patients who have experience significant negative medical consequences from an injectable weight loss drug or other potentially risky medication without their doctor first advising them of the risks may have experienced medical malpractice.
Especially in cases where physicians engage in off-label prescribing, patients should have full information about the risks so that they can make the best choice possible. Initiating a medical malpractice lawsuit can potentially lead to compensation for patients harmed by poor medical practices and consequences for the physician at issue.