Doctor guilty in death of woman after plastic surgery

Medical malpractice can take on many forms. In some cases, an incorrect medication or dose of a medication can be dispensed. Other times, communication between healthcare workers can lead to a missed or incorrect diagnosis. Surgical errors are yet further types of situation that leads to a serious injury or even death. A piece of surgical equipment left inside a patient is one of the most common types of surgical errors in Pennsylvania or elsewhere.

A careless surgeon can also be identified by his or her actions before, during and after a surgery. A Brooklyn doctor that has recently pled guilty in the case of a death of one of his patients falls into this category. The plastic surgeon agreed to perform liposuction on a woman who had already had a heart transplant with no cardiologist consultation. Additionally, he is said to have falsified information listed in her medical records. The woman died after the liposuction procedure in 2012.

The physician was originally charged with manslaughter, which would have carried a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. He opted to enter into a plea bargain with the court for a lesser sentence in exchange for his guilty plea. He will be under a five-year probationary sentence following two months in jail. It is not known if a civil lawsuit has been or will be filed in the case.

Victims or family members of victims who have been injured as a result of a surgeon mistake or other action may wish to get a consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer. Learning the laws in this area can offer help in determining the best way to receive compensation.

Source: New York Daily News, “Brooklyn plastic surgeon pleads guilty to criminally negligent homicide after former model dies following botched liposuction,” Oren Yaniv, May 7, 2014