American “Medical Tourist” Women Dies in David After Undergoing Liposuction

By José Vásquez for La Critica -

An American woman, 30 year old Patrice Lachon Clark, died early yesterday at dawn on Monday morning in a private health clinic in David, as a result of a presumed heart attack suffered after undergoing liposuction. “The woman entered the clinic on Saturday, underwent plastic surgery, came out of the operation, and spoke to her family members in the United States. She was then transferred to the recovery room of the company that assists patients undergoing operations. Later she suffered respiratory failure which the patient did not survive,” explained Dr. Paúl Alegría, the reconstructive and plastic surgeon who operated on the patient. Dr. Alegría said they conducted all of the required medical evaluations, briefed the patient on the risks of surgery, and the next day conducted the surgery. “We complied with the entire process. The risks of undergoing an operation of this type are the same as getting a filling in a tooth or undergoing a surgery of any kind – the greatest risk is during the operation,” he said.

The surgery began Saturday at 12:00 noon and Patrice died yesterday at 3:00 am. The First Superior Public Prosecutor, Franklin Amaya, said an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death and to consider if there are merits to open an investigation for medical negligence. The American woman arrived from Houston, Texas, accompanied by other Americans who had already undergone liposuction with Dr. Alegría. The cost of liposuction is approximately $10,000. The relatives of Patrice Lachon Clark spoke yesterday with Dr. Alegría and asked for a medical forensic investigation, and for the corpse to be transferred to the United States.