Lauren Michelle Edgar's liposuction at Dr George Kerry's North Adelaide clinic led to fatal infection, coroner finds

Inquest into the death of a woman who died after undergoing liposuction has prompted recommendations to introduce national reforms to cosmetic surgery.

Lauren Michelle Edgar, 28, died five days after complications arose from her liposuction procedure at Dr George Kerry's North Adelaide clinic in March, 2008. In his findings today, Deputy State Coroner Anthony Schapel said Ms Edgar's care after the $7000 surgery was not adequate.

He found Ms Edgar experienced worsening pain and discomfort after the surgery that should have been more appropriately addressed. "The notations that Dr Kerry made in the clinical notes to the effect that he offered to see Ms Edgar that afternoon were belatedly made at a time after Ms Edgar's hospitalisation and serious illness was known to Dr Kerry," Mr Schapel said. "I find that even if Dr Kerry had made any such suggestions to Ms Edgar, the level of concern about Ms Edgar should have been sufficient to have warranted insistence on his part that she be examined by him that afternoon. "I find that if Dr Kerry had examined Ms Edgar on the Friday afternoon her condition at that point in time was such that Dr Kerry should have immediately referred Ms Edgar to hospital."

Following her discharge from the clinic, Ms Edgar was not examined again by Dr Kerry but he spoke to her on the phone and arranged a Panadeine Forte prescription to remedy the pain. However, the next morning Ms Edgar was admitted to hospital for surgery before being treated in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Mr Schapel found Ms Edgar died as a result of contracting an infection that led to gas gangrene affecting her legs and pelvis. "There can be no question but that Ms Edgar contracted the infection consequent upon the liposuction procedure," he said.

Mr Schapel echoed recommendations made by the Inter-Jurisdictional Cosmetic Surgery Working Group. "The court endorses the recommendation of the Working Group that there should be a national framework covering cosmetic, medical and surgical procedures which includes a baseline of requirements relating to the training, expertise and qualifications of cosmetic surgeons," he said. "In respect of the regulation of places where such surgery occurs, compulsory licensing and standards for private health facilities and the promulgation of specific guidelines for the work-up of patients contemplating cosmetic medical and surgical procedures."

Mr Schapel also recommended the cosmetic surgery industry be advised that "an acceptable level of post-operative care must include a personal post-operative consultation with the patient within the first 24 to 48 hours of a liposuction procedure". In a statement, Ms Edgar's family said they welcomed Mr Schapel's findings - and his recommendations. "The inquest into our daughter's death has been a long drawn out process but we are generally happy with the outcome," they said. "We had always believed that the bacterium had been introduced during the cosmetic procedure, and we questioned the standard of post operative care provided to Lauren. "We are consoled by the fact that due to our daughter's death, the deputy coroner has recommended significant changes particularly baseline requirements for the training, expertise and qualifications of cosmetic surgeons and the licensing and standards for private health facilities."

Source: News.com.au 

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