Florida

Illinois Woman Dies While Having Cosmetic Surgery in Doral Clinic Performed by Revoked Doctor

A 30-year-old woman died Thursday of complications from a cosmetic procedure performed by a Florida doctor who is appealing the revocation of his medical license.

Miami-Dade Police say Lattia Baumeister of Rock Island, Illinois, was undergoing an unidentified procedure at Seduction Cosmetic Center in Doral when she suffered a medical emergency. She was taken to Kendall Regional Hospital where she later was pronounced dead. Miami-Dade homicide detectives are assisting Doral police in investigating Baumeister's death.

Baumeister's surgery was performed by Dr. Osak Omulepu. Omulepu's license was revoked in April by the state's medical board after two women complained they had to be hospitalized with life-threatening conditions following a Brazilian butt lift procedure with the doctor. At his hearing, his attorney argued their injuries were known complications of their surgery.

A three-judge panel later ruled that Omulepu could practice medicine while he appealed the revocation.

The state then tried to put restrictions on his license. But Thursday, the same day Baumeister died, a judge denied that request allowing Dr. Omulepu to perform surgeries with no restrictions in place.

Nyosha Fowler is one of the women whose complaint about Dr. Omulepu led to his license revocation. She told NBC 6 it's "devastating" to know he is still practicing medicine.

"When I see he hurts someone else, let alone a person with kids - a mother, I don't know what I can do to help, but I thought I have to put a stop to this," Fowler said.

Omulepu's attorney, Monica Rodriguez, released a statement on his behalf:

"Dr. Omulepu is absolutely devastated by the complication that occurred in this case. This is the first patient death he has had. Although what happened has been widely documented as a complication of the procedure the patient underwent, it is not a situation any surgeon wants to have, nor does it make this any easier for the patient’s family or for him.“

A family member told NBC 6, Baumeister was a mother to six children and the whole family is devastated by what happened. They've set up a fundraising site to help her children. Baumeister is the third person to die this year in Miami-Dade County after traveling to the area for a procedure.

Seduction Cosmetic Center released a statement expressing their sympathies over Baumeister's death and they are working with state officials during the investigation.

"Seduction provides the highest standards of medical care in the South Florida community and patient safety is always their foremost concern," the statement read in part.

The City of Doral forced Seduction Cosmetic Center in Doral to shut down temporarily. A sign on the door read that the City Manager found that "emergency conditions" exist that could be a "serious danger" to public health. Code Enforcement found the owner did not have the proper permits in place to operate the business. They will be allowed to schedule a hearing about the emergency action.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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