The New York plastic surgeon who runs the clinic in which a Co Limerick woman had cosmetic surgery three days before she died was last year banned from carrying out much of the nasal plastic surgery in which he specialised, writes Sean O'Driscoll in New York
The New York Board of Professional Medical Conduct confirmed to The Irish Times last night that Dr Michael Evan Sachs was banned from carrying out complex "revisionist" surgery on patients without outside medical supervision. This followed a board investigation into a patient's complaint.
Dr Sachs specialised in revisionist surgery, which is surgery performed to correct unsuccessful work by other cosmetic surgeons.
However, Limerick woman Kay Cregan (42) was in his surgery for ordinary, non-corrective surgery when she collapsed, according to Dr Sachs's lawyer, Mr Jay Butterman.
Ms Cregan, from Croom, underwent facial surgery on March 14th, and developed complications the following day. She was transferred to a general hospital, where she was pronounced dead on March 17th.
Mr Butterman criticised as "distorted" claims in the New York Daily News newspaper that Dr Sachs had paid out more for malpractice lawsuits in the last 10 years than any other cosmetic surgeon in New York.
However, Mr Butterman confirmed that Dr Sachs had been stopped from carrying out complex plastic surgery, mostly revisionist surgery, following an investigation by the Board of Professional Medical Conduct last year.
"The board felt it had to act following a series of Daily News articles. He was investigated, and he agreed not to perform complex rhinoplasty, mostly revisionist rhinoplasty. It's unfortunate because there aren't many doctors who do it."
The US National Practitioner Data Bank in Maryland, which collects statistics on medical lawsuits, said it could not confirm claims in the Daily News about Dr Sachs.
The Daily News has strongly opposed Dr Sachs in recent years, and wrote an editorial about him in January in which it called on him to stop his plastic surgery clinic.
Dr Sachs is a high-profile plastic surgeon who has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and has been quoted in mass circulation magazines.
Mr Butterman said Dr Sachs was "absolutely devastated" by Ms Cregan's death, and said she was the only patient he had lost in his practice. He said Dr Sachs had met the Cregan family last week and expressed his sympathy.
A spokesman for Ms Cregan's family said they were not commenting last night.