The desire for a quick-fix weight loss solution is high among Americans as the country tries to get the obesity epidemic under control. After trying diets and exercise some people resort to more drastic measures to get their weight and health under control. Often these last resort efforts come with increased risk such as surgical complications.

Some surgical centers in the Los Angeles area are now facing wrongful death lawsuits after they failed to adequately warn consumers on their billboards of the dangers associated with Lap-Band surgeries. The company marketed the surgery on billboards and other advertisements and then referred those who called them to surgery centers.

The Food and Drug Administration claims the company and the associated surgical centers failed to properly warn consumers of the risks because their billboards didn't contain any warning information about the surgeries, and the warnings and risks on their other advertisements were too small for consumers to read. Now, the FDA has sent warning letters to the centers about their advertising practices.

Unfortunately, these warnings came too late for five people, whose deaths have now been linked to the surgical centers. Wrongful death, personal injury and false advertising lawsuits have been launched against the marketing company and the centers.

It is the responsibility of doctors and marketers to properly notify consumers of the risks of surgeries. Now, families will have to live without their loved ones, and others could face years of medical problems because they were not properly warned about the risks they were taking.

Source: KTLA, "FDA Issues Warning For Misleading Lap-Band Ads," Dec. 13, 2011