Teen Cannot Eat or Bathe on Own Following Complications From Breast Augmentation Surgery, Coma

Attorneys for the woman who ended up in a coma after her breast augmentation surgery say they have no doubt her doctors acted with negligence.

"Over an hour elapsed before they ever called 911," said attorney Mark Eiglarsh.

Linda Perez, 19, cannot eat, bathe, or go to the bathroom on her own. Six months after the surgery at the Coral Gables Cosmetic Center, she has brain damage and requires 24-hour care.

Perez's family attorneys have not yet filed a lawsuit against the center because they are waiting for medical records from the day of surgery.

The attorneys also say that the clinic claimed Perez intentionally hid information about complications during her son's birth. Medical records obtained by her lawyers, however, show Perez delivered her baby without complications.

"It is their further attempt to deflect responsibility for their negligence and blame a victim that they silenced," said Eiglarsh.

An attorney for the Coral Gables Cosmetic Center says the center cannot comment on medical issues related to its patients because of privacy laws.

In a statement, the clinic also said: "CGCC prides itself on partnering with top medical professionals including board certified plastic surgeons and is committed to upholding the highest standards of medical care and patient safety."

The Florida Department of Health website shows Dr. Jacob Freiman, who performed the surgery, is a board-certified plastic surgeon. Yet court records show Dr. Mario Alberto Diaz, the anesthesiologist for the procedure, was on probation after serving time in federal prison for illegally dispensing at least 53,000 doses of pain pills over the Internet. His license was suspended for a year following the arrest, but it has since been reinstated.

"There's a reason why they're able to charge less than others. Hiring an anesthesiologist that's a convicted felon, cutting corners on equipment, it's just not worth it,” Eiglarsh said.

How Perez ended up in her current condition is still unclear, but her mother, Mariela Diaz, is clear on one thing. She says no amount of money will ever bring back her daughter to the way she used to be.

"What I want is justice, if this happened to her it can happen to someone else," Diaz said.

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