mango
Mustachio Nut
Found this news article... figured this was the best place to post it.
Woman dies after liposuction
By Sue Hewitt
January 28, 2007 12:00am
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21130567-2,00.html
VICTORIA's Coroner will investigate the death of a woman this week, three days after she had cosmetic surgery to remove fat.
Lauren James, 26, who was treated at a Caulfield North surgery centre, died on Monday after complaining of bleeding and pain over the weekend.
Her family vowed yesterday to join any call for tougher regulation of the vanity surgery industry if the coroner found her death was linked to the liposuction.
"If it turns out that it was the surgery that caused Lauren's death, we would want to prevent it happening to someone else," he said.
Dr Norm Olbourne, a spokesman for the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, said regulation was needed in vanity surgery.
Yesterday, her family paid tribute to her selflessness and inner beauty.
"She was extraordinarily beautiful, both inside and outside," her brother, Collie James Jr said yesterday.
"Lauren cared more for others than herself.
"If there is a connection found between the treatment and her death, it would be in honour of her and her great capacity for love that we would want to make sure this did not happen to anyone else."
Ms James had liposuction on both thighs and her buttocks at the Centre of Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery in Caulfield North on January 19 and was discharged that day.
It is understood she complained of bleeding and saw the centre's medical director, Dr Mervyn Cass, on Monday morning. She died about 8pm.
Ms James's death has sparked calls for regulation of the vanity surgery industry.
General practitioners can perform cosmetic procedures without surgical qualifications.
Ms James's brother said the family was waiting to find out the cause of death.
"If it turns out that it was the surgery that caused Lauren's death, we would want to prevent it happening to someone else," Mr James said.
"We would fully endorse an investigation into the dangers and complications that can arise from what is seen as routine cosmetic surgery."
Mr James said he would not comment further until seeing the coroner's report.
Dr Tam Dieu, who performed the operation, is a qualified surgeon. He declined to comment.
The national head of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said there were "no standards" in cosmetic surgery.
The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery is trying to introduce new rules to ensure cosmetic surgery is carried out by doctors with post-graduate training, Dr Haikerwal said.
Dr Norm Olbourne, a spokesman for the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, said regulation was needed.
He said doctors should be forced to reveal their qualifications to patients and have a "gold standard" or surgical qualification.
Dr Olbourne said doctors performing cosmetic surgery should be members of the Fellowship of Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
Dr Cass said staff at the centre were "totally shattered".
"(What happened) is beyond our belief and we, too, are looking for answers."
Opposition health spokeswoman Helen Shardey said she supported moves that required those practising cosmetic surgery to have additional qualifications.
A spokeswoman for Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said: "Government regulations require that all liposuction is performed in a licensed day procedure centre."
