Inventor of Stomach Pouch Sued In Woman’s Death

Thursday, Dec. 5, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Dr. Mal Fobi was named in the suit filed Tuesday in District Court on behalf of the family of Bonnie Robertson, who died in February 1995, less than two years after having the operation.

The suit contends that the 52-year-old Robertson underwent the prosedure at Fobi's suggestion in July 1993 when she weighed 180 pounds.

The suit claims that by the time she died, Robertson was malnourished and weighed 85 pounds.

According to the suit, Robertson had a different obesity operation in 1975 and maintained a healthy weight for about 18 years.

It claims that she went to a support group for obese or formerly obese people in 1992 and Fobi told her the bypass procedure she had was unsafe and that she could develop a fatal liver disease from it.

After the surgery to reduce the size of her stomach to a tablespoon and a half, Robertson became ill with diarrhea and other symptoms, the suit contends.

Fobi is credited with inventing the Fobi Pouch, which was approved in 1991 by the National Institutes of Health. He practices in both California and Nevada.