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 Krista Stryland died from complications from a liposuction procedure at Toronto Cosmetic Clinic in September, 2007. (HO) |
TORONTO -- An anesthesiologist left the recovery room for a snack while a liposuction patient with weak vital signs lay on what was to become her death bed, a hearing heard yesterday.
Krista Stryland, 32, died from complications from a liposuction procedure at Toronto Cosmetic Clinic in September, 2007.
"I was in the vicinity of the recovery room, but I would usually go for a cookie," Dr. Bruce Lieberman, the anesthesiologist at the clinic told a disciplinary hearing at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
The hearing is investigating Dr. Behnaz Yazdanfar, who performed the liposuction on Stryland. The college claims the doctor failed to maintain professional standards with 28 patients between 2005 and 2007.
But Yazdanfar's lawyers yesterday suggested Lieberman was responsible for Stryland's death.
Lieberman, who appeared somewhat dishevelled and confused, said at one point he didn't know Stryland's cause of death.
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The anesthesiologist's professional guidelines state he would be "captain of the ship" after surgery with the patient in the recovery room, said Tracey Tremayne-Lloyd, Yazdanfar's lawyer.
"Patients leave the operating room as a general practice with the anesthesiologist. It is the anesthesiologist's responsibility that the patient is safe to turn over to the recovery room nurse. It is not the standard for surgeons to look after a patient in the recovery room," Tremayne-Lloyd said.
The hearing heard how the two doctors went into another surgery while Stryland's condition deteriorated.
At one point, Lieberman left the surgery after being told that Stryland was in trouble.
"It is not my role to diagnose a surgical complication," Lieberman said.
Tremayne-Lloyd accused Lieberman of not asking Yazdanfar for a diagnosis. Stryland had no vital signs and was in a pool of blood by the time paramedics were called.
Lieberman claimed Stryland had good vital signs before the paramedics took over care. The EMS report disputes the claim.
The defence says there was no medical misadventure.
Many of Yazdanfar's patients have testified they had suffered botched results and painful recoveries.
KEVIN.CONNOR@SUNMEDIA.COM