Cops probe death of Canadian woman, 57, at cosmetic surgery clinic

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Costa Rican homicide detectives are probing the mysterious death of a Canadian woman who died at a cosmetic surgery clinic in the Central American country.

According to authorities, the 57-year-old woman, who was identified only by her surname Gariepy, died Oct. 22 at a private clinic in Barrio México, near Paseo Colón in the capital, San José.

The Tico Times reported that the woman had returned to the clinic for a follow-up appointment. She underwent a cosmetic procedure earlier this month.

Routine follow-up came off the rails

It was not revealed exactly what procedure she underwent. Now, the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) is investigating.

Officials say they received a report of trouble at the clinic around 11:36 a.m. and sent officers to the scene. The Times reports that she underwent the knife on Oct. 5 — two and a half weeks before her tragic death.

The visit was slated to be a routine follow-up.  It wasn’t clear whether her death was connected to the earlier procedure.

Medical personnel were unable to revive Gariepy and now cops are investigating. The woman’s body was transferred to the judicial morgue, where forensic specialists will conduct an autopsy to determine her cause of death.

So far, no criminal charges have been laid, and it is unclear whether medical negligence was a factor in Gariepy’s death. Nor would investigators detail the nature of the cosmetic procedures.

It also wasn’t known if there were prior complications before her death or how long the woman had been in Costa Rica.

Popular cosmetic surgery destination

The stunning country has become a popular destination for cosmetic surgery tourism, but there has been a downside to all that silicone and liposuction. Officials are concerned the plastic surgery industry has become a Wild West.

The substantive medical tourism industry attracts foreign patients looking for dental care, cosmetic procedures and other medical treatments. Treatment is considerably less expensive than in Canada.

In January, Cinthya Carvajal Guevara, 48, died following a procedure at a clinic in Rohrmoser. Two other women, Ivannia Torres, 40, and Regina Brumley Kerr, 43, also died after experiencing complications associated with cosmetic procedures.

College of Physicians issues warning

The Costa Rican College of Physicians and Surgeons cautioned patients that doctors performing the procedures need specialized training — and credentials. They pointed out that a family doctor does not qualify as a plastic surgeon.

Doctors suggest that patients arriving in Costa Rica for procedures need to do their due diligence, particularly when anesthesia, surgery or an extended recovery period is involved. Patients can verify their doctor’s bona fides via an online registry.

So far, the results of Gariepy’s autopsy have not been released, nor has her medical history.

In March, another Canadian, Jessika Chagnon Gailloux, a 35-year-old mother of four from Saint-Lin–Laurentides, Que., died in Antalya, Turkey, after undergoing a tummy tuck and breast lift at a private hospital.

According to her family, one of the doctors appeared intoxicated at the time of the op.

“You can imagine the pain I am going through. I am still struggling. All I am doing [while waiting for the official cause of death] is consulting artificial intelligence by submitting the reports to try to understand,” her mom, Sonia Chagnon, told Journal De Quebec.

A victim of negligence?

Sonia Chagnon is certain that her daughter was a victim of negligence and that postoperative monitoring was inadequate.

“We received the autopsy report. It was done in two parts: a visual and a toxicological report, and neither was conclusive. Everything was subsequently sent to the forensic centre in Istanbul,” she added.

“What I can’t wrap my head around is that she didn’t have a heart monitor. She had just been cut open. And she didn’t have a blood pressure monitor to measure her blood oxygen levels either. In my opinion, if she had had that, they could have saved her.”

Cops in Istanbul discovered through her travel companions they had consumed narcotic substances three days before the procedure.

bhunter@postmedia.com

@HuntertOSun

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