Jason Stephens | November 27, 2023 | Medical Malpractice
NOTE: Our law firm does not handle medical malpractice cases. This article is for informational purposes only. Information found in the article does not constitute as formal legal advice and does not create an attorney/client relationship.
The medical, scientific, and technological communities are always coming up with new and innovative methods for treating various health conditions. However, not all medical interventions are free of controversy.
Many treatments that are currently in use raise legitimate questions concerning their safety and effectiveness. If an experimental procedure harms your health rather than helping it, it might be time to contact a medical malpractice lawyer.
With that said, below are five such practices that have sparked significant controversy in the field of modern medicine:
1. Ketamine Treatment
Ketamine was traditionally used as an anesthetic and pain reliever, but it has recently become popular as an antidepressant.
Ketamine therapy is now offered as an option for treating a variety of conditions, such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Substance use disorder
- Chronic pain
The controversy around ketamine treatment, however, is related to its high potential for abuse and dissociative side effects.
Using ketamine to treat mental health conditions like depression raises questions about its long-term safety and the potential risk of a patient developing a substance use disorder. There’s also a lack of research on the drug’s long-term effects on cognitive function and physical health.
2. Gastric Bypass Surgery
Obesity can lead to many additional health complications, from diabetes to mobility issues. Though gastric bypass surgery can be undertaken for the sole purpose of losing weight, doctors may recommend the procedure as a means of treating underlying health conditions.
Be that as it may, gastric bypass is a major form of surgery that can lead to a variety of serious and deadly medical conditions, such as bowel obstruction.
3. Electroconvulsive Therapy
People often think of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also known as “electroshock therapy,” as a thing of the past, so it can be surprising to learn that it’s still a commonly used form of treatment.
In any case, ECT is a treatment that has been submerged in controversy throughout its entire existence. It brings several risks to a patient’s mental health and cognitive functioning, and it can also lead to complications with heart rate and blood pressure, as well as anesthesia injuries.
4. Deep Brain Stimulation
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a procedure where electrodes are placed on a patient’s brain with the intent of using electrical currents to regulate brain activity.
As such, the procedure is often used to help patients dealing with serious conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease. However, it’s also used to treat mental health conditions like depression or OCD, and it is in that context that it is viewed in a controversial light.
Both the brain and psychiatric conditions are highly complex, and there’s still a lot that doctors and scientists don’t know. Without long-term studies, it’s impossible to know how DBS might negatively impact a patient’s mental state and cognitive functioning.
5. Tonsillectomy
Tonsillectomies have long stood as a widely accepted medical practice, usually performed on children as a solution to recurring inflamed tonsils or as a treatment for sleep apnea. However, studies are beginning to show that removing the tonsils may offer little benefit.
In addition, tonsil removal appears to increase the risk of respiratory infections and anesthesia errors during the procedure.
Getting Help With Medical Injuries
Medical professionals must receive informed consent from a patient before moving forward with a risky procedure. That means that before your doctor begins a procedure, it’s their job to make sure you understand the possible dangers and long-term risks.
With controversial treatments, there’s often a greater risk that a patient wasn’t adequately warned about the potential dangers. If you end up hurt by a medical procedure, your next step should be to consult a medical malpractice attorney about what to do next.
Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents
1300 S University Dr # 300
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 893-6572