A court has ordered the proprietors of a city cosmetic clinic to appear for further directions regarding the death of a patient following a botched cosmetic surgery. The suspects will appear before a senior principal magistrate for further proceedings.
The defense team representing the suspects requested the court to defer plea-taking, arguing that they had secured anticipatory bail from the High Court, which had temporarily stopped their arrest. They further stated that they had not been properly served with court documents in time to prepare for the proceedings.
The defense lawyers emphasized that they had already filed an application in the High Court challenging the prosecution of their clients. They contended that the magistrate’s court should await directions from the superior court before proceeding with plea-taking.
The prosecution, however, opposed the request, arguing that the suspects had been properly served and were aware of the charges against them. The prosecution further asserted that there was no High Court order stopping the lower court from proceeding with the case. As such, they urged the court to issue warrants of arrest against the suspects for failing to appear as required.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the magistrate directed that the suspects appear in court the following morning for further directions.
The charges against the suspects stem from the death of a businesswoman in October last year, following complications from a surgical procedure. The deceased underwent a cosmetic surgery at a facility in the city and was discharged on October 18. However, she later began feeling unwell at home and returned to the clinic, where she was referred to a major hospital for further medical attention.
At the hospital, doctors conducted an emergency surgery on October 23 and discovered multiple perforations in her intestines. Despite efforts to save her, she passed away on October 26, 2024. A postmortem examination confirmed that the 47-year-old woman had succumbed to extensive internal complications resulting from the 360-degree liposuction procedure she had undergone on October 16, 2024.
The case has sparked discussions about the safety and regulation of cosmetic procedures in the country. The incident has raised concerns about the standards maintained by private cosmetic clinics and the qualifications of those performing such procedures. Medical experts have since called for stricter enforcement of regulations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
As the legal proceedings continue, the case is expected to set a precedent for medical malpractice and accountability in the cosmetic surgery industry. The outcome will be closely watched, particularly by medical professionals and regulatory authorities seeking to uphold patient safety standards.
The suspects will be required to appear before the court as directed, and the case will proceed based on the legal arguments presented by both the defense and the prosecution.
