The story of Janet Lynne Savage, a 54-year-old driving examiner and mother of two from Bangor, Gwynedd, is a stark reminder of the risks that can accompany overseas medical procedures. An inquest has recently heard that Ms. Savage tragically lost her life following complications from a weight-loss surgery in Turkey. She had traveled to Antalya in August 2023 to undergo a gastric sleeve operation, a popular procedure among those seeking substantial weight loss, especially when affordable options are limited at home.
Ms. Savage reached out to Regenesis Health Travel, a medical tourism company, at the beginning of July 2023. She was concerned about her recent weight gain after she could no longer access Ozempic, a weight-loss medication that had helped her manage her weight. Ms. Savage’s body mass index (BMI) was recorded at 30.7, placing her just at the threshold of obesity according to NHS guidelines, where a BMI of 30 and above falls into the obese category.
Within 24 hours of her inquiry, Ms. Savage had booked the surgery, set for a month later. Regenesis Health Travel was informed that she intended to lose around three stone (19kg) through the procedure. Tragically, the inquest revealed that unforeseen complications arose in the operating room. According to testimony provided by Regenesis Health Travel’s client service officer Alison Ergun, Ms. Savage encountered severe issues within minutes of the surgery. The surgeon, Dr. Ramazan Azar, documented a 3-4mm defect in Ms. Savage’s aorta, a critical artery. This defect resulted in severe blood loss, leading to a cardiac arrest shortly after the procedure began.
Despite emergency interventions, the surgical team was unable to save her life. The gastric sleeve surgery was halted, and she was transferred to the intensive care unit, where efforts continued but were ultimately unsuccessful. She passed away in the early hours of August 6, 2023.
The senior coroner for North West Wales, Kate Robertson, delivered a narrative verdict, citing “acute blood loss during gastric sleeve surgery” as the primary cause of death. In a moving address, the coroner extended her condolences to Ms. Savage’s family.
Ms. Savage’s story has underscored the potential dangers of undergoing invasive medical procedures abroad, even as cost and accessibility pressures drive many patients toward medical tourism. This unfortunate event brings attention to the need for thorough consideration, research, and scrutiny of medical providers when opting for treatments in other countries.
For those considering weight-loss surgery or any other medical treatment overseas, it is essential to weigh potential risks and be fully informed about the qualifications and facilities available through foreign health providers.