A 31-year-old mother of two from Queens, New York, tragically lost her life following a botched medical procedure performed by an unlicensed practitioner. María Paz Peñaloza had sought to have her buttock implants removed at an illicit liposuction clinic operating out of a residential home in Ditmars Steinway. The procedure, conducted in March, resulted in Peñaloza becoming brain-dead. She was subsequently taken off life support on April 11.
The unlicensed practitioner, identified as Felipe Hoyos-Foronda, attempted to flee the country after the incident but was apprehended at JFK Airport. A complaint filed in Queens Criminal Court revealed that Hoyos-Foronda had administered lidocaine, a local anesthetic, to Peñaloza via a syringe, which led to her suffering a cardiac arrest.
Peñaloza’s sister, Linney Peñaloza Cabrera, expressed her shock and grief over the incident. She disclosed that María had chosen the illegal clinic based on a friend’s recommendation, who had previously undergone a procedure at the same location. Cabrera also revealed that medical professionals had tried to revive her sister for over two hours after she was rushed to the hospital.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office is currently investigating the case. Prosecutors believe that Peñaloza’s death was caused by lidocaine toxicity. While lidocaine is generally safe, it can become toxic if administered incorrectly or in large doses over widespread areas.
Following the incident, a friend of the victim visited Hoyos-Foronda’s illegal clinic to collect Peñaloza’s belongings. The landlord informed the friend about the tragic event, leading her to contact the police. Law enforcement was able to track Hoyos-Foronda’s vehicle to the Van Wyck Expressway, where Port Authority police apprehended him at the airport as he was preparing to board a flight to Colombia.
Hoyos-Foronda was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree assault, a felony, and unauthorized practice of a profession. The Queens District Attorney’s Office stated that they are re-examining the charges in light of the new developments in the case, which remains an active and ongoing investigation.