New York law imposes extensive regulatory requirements on medical professionals to help ensure that patients are receiving high-quality care. These safeguards are not always effective to prevent New York medical malpractice, and recent news reports show that doctors are performing unlicensed buttock-enhancement surgery. The silicone injection products are not FDA-approved, and the doctors are not qualified to perform the procedure. The consequences have included deformation, amputation, and even death.A New York woman seeking buttock-enhancement surgery met with a doctor in a local donut shop. The doctor then had the patient wait inside the donut shop until a “nurse” came to meet her and bring her to an apartment for silicone injections. The woman received the silicone injections in her buttocks and hips. She called 911 on the night following the procedure, reporting that she felt dizziness and chest pains. She was rushed to the hospital and slipped into a coma, after which she was later pronounced brain-dead. She was taken off life support a short time later. It’s possible that the injection was made into a blood vein, and as a result, the silicone entered her blood stream, where it passed to her heart and brain.
New York law enforcement searched the apartment where the procedure was performed. They found surgical supplies and drugs used to numb skin. The family of the deceased woman filed a lawsuit against the doctor, and it’s likely that criminal charges will also be brought against the doctor. In fact, an unlicensed Florida doctor was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison following a similarly botched procedure.
The claim against the New York doctor likely alleges medical negligence. The elements of that cause of action are (i) a patient was under the care of a physician; (ii) in the course of advising, diagnosing, or treating the patient, the physician failed to act as a doctor in the specialty should act; and (iii) as a result, the patient was injured, became ill, or saw their condition or injury worsen.
The lawsuit against the New York woman’s doctor has several alleged details that would help bolster a medical malpractice claim. For instance, it’s possible that using a donut shop as a waiting room and performing cosmetic surgical procedures in an apartment is in clear violation of the standards put in place for that doctor. In addition, the patient was later admitted to the emergency room and died as a result of the alleged treatment. Under these circumstances, it’s important to secure a competent attorney to ensure that you are represented in an appropriate manner for a medical malpractice claim.
If you have lost a family member due to medical malpractice, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we have a proven record of results in obtaining settlements and verdicts for people injured by medical mistakes in Syracuse. Call us today for a free initial consultation.
More Blog Posts:
New York Court Allows Botched Spinal Surgery Lawsuit to Proceed, Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, September 1, 2017