Non-Board Certified Doctor Performs Liposuction, Kills Woman With Overdose
A woman received liposuction from a doctor who was not board certified in any medical specialty, but performed a type of liposuction in which he said he had been teaching to other non-plastic surgeons. The woman died from the procedure on Valentine’s Day 2010.
Lee-Howard wanted a “safe” way to lose weight and decided to go with an advertisement she had seen about the Alyne Medical Rejuvenation Institute. After receiving the surgery, she did not feel well and slept on the couch. The next morning, her husband found her dead.
A plastic surgeon that is an expert witness in the wrongful death lawsuit, said this was outrageous.
“There was so much lidocaine in Lee-Howard's body that it showed a basic misunderstanding of the principles of pharmacology and patient safety," says Alberto Gallerani.
The attorneys for the negligent doctor filed a motion to dismiss the case.
There has been a growing issue of doctors who have been trained in a specific field who are trying to branch into cosmetic surgery without the appropriate training. In fact, some doctors are performing cosmetic procedures after just one weekend of observing other doctors.
According to interviews with the other doctors who have trained under the doctor who allegedly killed Lee-Howard, said that Sant Antonio offers three-day liposuction training at his office.
It is believed that these negligent medical practices have become so frighteningly popular because the state laws surrounding office-based surgeries are very minimal.
Other shocking examples include dentists doing breast implants; OB/GYNs performing tummy tucks; radiologists doing liposuction procedures and more.
Even with this information available to the public, the U.S. has not seen a shortage of patients for these dangerous surgeries. In an overweight society in disbelief of aging, people are willing to spend the money on cosmetic procedures – especially if they can get a “deal.”
A 38-year-old mother of two also died at Sant Antonio’s clinic. After receiving liposuctions and a fat-transfer, she died of cardiac arrest.
The doctor performing these surgeries studied pediatrics for a brief period of time before completing a medical residency in general surgery. He was able to work as a general surgeon – but was never board-certified in any area of medicine. At a previous hospital he worked at in 2004, he settled a medical malpractice claim.
Gallerani says he see about five patients weekly who received botch plastic surgery procedures from non-plastic-surgeons offering procedures for a discounted price.
Seattle medical malpractice and wrongful death attorney Christopher Davis often receives calls from those who have received negligent medical care and in some cases, loved ones calling about a family member who has died. Do your research before your procedure. Know the experience that your doctor has. And most importantly, make sure they are board certified in the area they are practicing in.
If you believe you have been the victim of medical malpractice or someone you love has died after a medical procedure, call Davis Law Group at (206) 727-4000 to schedule a free consultation today.
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