A 31-year-old woman was left in a critical condition after a botched surgical procedure to remove her buttock implants at an illegal home clinic in Queens, New York. The woman had sought the services of Felipe Hoyos-Foronda, who operated an unlicensed liposuction clinic out of his residence on 35th Street near 20th Road in Ditmars Steinway.
During the ill-fated procedure, Hoyos-Foronda, who claimed to be a medical doctor from Colombia, administered lidocaine to the woman via a syringe. This led to her suffering a cardiac arrest, as per the complaint lodged in Queens Criminal Court. The woman was subsequently rushed to Mount Sinai Queens hospital in a critical condition.
At the hospital, the woman was intubated and showed no signs of brain activity. Medical professionals attending to her noted symptoms of lidocaine toxicity. Meanwhile, Hoyos-Foronda fled the scene in his vehicle.
While the woman was receiving treatment at the hospital, a friend arrived at the illegal clinic to collect her belongings. The landlord informed the friend about the incident, leading her to alert the police. Upon arrival, the police obtained a photograph of Hoyos-Foronda from the landlord.
The police were able to trace Hoyos-Foronda’s vehicle to the Van Wyck Expressway. He was subsequently apprehended by Port Authority police at JFK Airport, where he was preparing to board a flight. Hoyos-Foronda was arrested and charged with second-degree assault, a felony, and unauthorized practice of a profession.
During his arraignment on Sunday, Hoyos-Foronda was denied bail and is scheduled to reappear in court on Thursday. As of Wednesday, the woman remained unconscious in the hospital. The police have released a photograph of Hoyos-Foronda and are appealing to any other potential victims to come forward.