Liposuction death defendants appeal

Awad Mustafa

• Last Updated: November 14. 2009 10:14PM UAE / November 14. 2009 6:14PM GMT

DUBAI // Seven hospital employees convicted of negligence over the death of a woman following a botched liposuction operation took their appeal to court last week.

A British anaesthetist, AB, an Egyptian plastic surgeon, HZ, and a Filipino technician, RS, were given one-year jail terms over the incident.

AB and HZ were also fined Dh10,000 (US$2,700) and RS was fined Dh5,000 after they were convicted by the Dubai Misdemeanours Court of medical negligence, malpractice and professional misconduct.  

They were jointly ordered to pay blood money to the family of LH, 27, an Emirati housewife who died in May last year, months after the operation in a private hospital in Dubai.

AB, 61, was accused of leaving the hospital shortly after the operation began to attend to a “personal matter”.

He was allegedly followed by HZ, who left before the completion of the operation, claiming that he was exhausted.

According to the court documents, the surgeon left the patient in the care of the technician and a Pakistani nurse, SN, neither of whom specialised in the procedure.

Prosecutors said RS removed fat tissue from the patient with the help of a hospital cleaner, AM. 

After the operation, the anaesthetist was said to have instructed a Filipina nurse, NB, over the telephone on how to revive the patient, a procedure that was linked to her death.

The hospital’s director, RA, a Syrian, was fined Dh20,000 for negligence. The two nurses and the cleaner were each fined Dh2,000.

Lawyers for the defendants asked Dubai Criminal Court of Appeals for a member of the committee that investigated the case to be called for cross-examination.

Abdel Monem Swaidan, defending RA, said after the hearing that he would attempt to prove that his client was not responsible for the death of LH.

“My client is an investor and administrator, he cannot be held responsible and accountable for everyone’s action,” said Mr Swaidan.

The hearing was adjourned until Thursday when the court will hear witness testimony.


amustafa@thenational.ae