Weight-loss surgery clinics under threat from soaring insurance costs, court cases

“No win, no legal fee” court cases are forcing some medical services to consider closing.

Growing malpractice claims and skyrocketing insurance costs have left bariatric surgeons contemplating shutting their clinics.

Bariatric surgery is a range of surgical procedures designed to help people with severe obesity lose weight and is considered one of the most effective, durable and cost-effective weight loss treatments.

But a survey of the industry shows soaring indemnity insurance premiums are putting it under pressure.

The survey by the University of Notre Dame Australia, Flinders University and the Australian and New Zealand Metabolic and Obesity Surgical Society found just more than a third (37 per cent) of bariatric surgeons were considering quitting because of costs.

In Australia,