Colorado plastic surgeon charged with ‘murder’ after 18-year-old patient dies (photos)

Geoffrey Kim, 52, turned himself in to Arapahoe police after being issued an arrest warrant.

Prosecutors said they would file several charges against the surgeon for negligent homicide, obstruction of the justice course and illegal exercise of the profession, said representative Vikki Migoya.

Kim was released on bail following his arrest and $ 5,000 bail.

Investigators said Kim had to undergo breast augmentation surgery on 18-year-old Emmalyn Nguyen on August 1, 2019, when the patient suffered a heart attack and was placed under anesthesia by anesthetist nurse Rex Meeker.

Investigators said Kim had not notified emergency services for at least 5 hours. Nguyen had remained in almost complete coma and tragically died 14 months later.

“The investigation took two years to complete and included dozens of interviews and physical checks. “We just hope this brings a sense of justice and calm to the family of the deceased,” said the Arapahoe sheriff.

Lou Shapiro, a Los Angeles-based criminal prosecutor, said that while it was unusual for a doctor to face criminal charges for the death of a patient, the facts in the case were “very disturbing.”

“The more a doctor deviates from the norms, the more likely he is to be prosecuted,” Shapiro said.

Nguyen’s family had filed a civil lawsuit against Kim and aide Meeker in December 2019, when the two defendants agreed to pay $ 1 million in damages each, according to the network CBS Denver.

Lynn Fam, Nguyen’s mother said: “We are devastated by the loss of our girlfriend Emmalyn. “No amount of money can replace it.”

A well-known cosmetic surgeon in Colorado, USA faces murder charges of negligence after the death of an 18-year-old girl