Bariatric surgeon Dr. Younan Nowzaradan is a hero to "My 600-lb Life" patients. Many credit Dr. Now (as he's affectionately called) for saving their lives with gastric bypass weight loss surgery. But one patient isn't happy with the reality television doctor. Michelle Park claims he left a tube inside her following a 2012 procedure. Park sued Nowzaradan for pain, suffering, disfigurement and loss of potential earnings but then, for some reason dropped the malpractice lawsuit in 2013.
Bariatric patient sues reality TV Dr. Now
Dr. Now is a leader in bariatric surgery and crusader to end morbid obesity. TLC "My 600-lb Life" now has five seasons under its belt with roughly 100 patients experiencing weight loss thanks to the show and its doctor. Michelle Park was not a cast member and her story wasn't featured on the Reality TV show which began the same year as her alleged botched gastric bypass surgery. Park claims a "6.69 inch piece of tubing" was left behind after her gastric sleeve was placed. She says it "stayed secret" for 22 months when the tube was found to have punctured her colon necessitating partial colon removal.
Park's malpractice lawsuit claims surgery expenses, loss of income, pain, mental anguish and disfigurement.
Why gastric sleeve patient dropped suit against Dr. Now
Did the beloved reality television physician leave the tube behind? Folks are discussing the malpractice claim on Facebook and plenty are defending Dr. Now. Some are saying the even if he did, the fault lay with the surgical team that must account for all the equipment used during surgery. The patient further confused by dropping the suit with no record of any settlement. Some say that Younan's son Jonathon Nowzaradan who owns the production company behind "My 600-lb Life" paid the patient to hush her up so she wouldn't tarnish the show's reputation.
Others assign a more sinister motive for the lawsuit against Dr. Nowzaradan.
Dr. Now fans rush to defend "My 600-lb Life" surgeon
Dr. Now literally has a cult following on Twitter, Facebook and social media. Some loyal fans suggest that Michelle Park's claim was a ruse to discredit Dr. Nowzaradan. It's been posited that perhaps she was disgruntled at not being featured on the reality television show. Folks aren't sure exactly who pays for the costly surgeries, "My 600-lb Life" or patients themselves. But it's assumed TLC pays a good share. It's reported that the Duggar family makes $40,000 per episode of "19 Kids and Counting" and "Counting On." Chad Dean did a GoFundMe to generate monies to get skin removal plastic surgery. So patients put up at least part of the money, it seems. Some fans think Park's lawsuit was just a good old-fashioned scam to milk malpractice