A 29 year old mother of two has died after a plastic surgery procedure at a clinic in South Florida.
Heather Meadows had traveled to the south Florida clinic to undergo a liposuction and buttocks augmentation last week but experienced medical complications shortly after the operation. She was taken to a nearby hospital and later declared dead.
The licensed Encore Plastic Surgery clinic has been brought into question after they are currently battling an ongoing medical malpractice case from 2013 but refused to comment on Ms. Meadows death. However, they have recently been offering low prices for plastic surgery procedures compared to other competing clinics – almost $8000 cheaper.
The increasing popularity of plastic surgery procedures including butt augmentation has led to a rise in incidents especially in Florida. The state currently allows any physician with a medical license to open a plastic surgery clinic despite them not having the proper medical experience for these procedures.
Department of Health spokeswoman Mara Gambineri, stated however that they are doing all they can to protect people from malpractice in these clinics.
“We can assure the public that we will be diligent and thorough in protecting them from unsafe or unscrupulous health care practice,” she said. “In any complaint investigation, the department uses its authority to subpoena all relevant records and to conduct interviews that will support the investigation. Every health care licensee is afforded due process rights under the law.”
An autopsy was conducted on Ms. Meadows but the coroners are unable to reveal the results as local police are still completing enquiries.