 Krista Stryland died from complications from a liposuction procedure at Toronto Cosmetic Clinic in September, 2007. (HO)
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TORONTO -- It is "preposterous" to contend that a Toronto cosmetic surgeon's liposuction surgery didn't contribute to her patient's death, an expert testified yesterday.
Dr. Behnaz Yazdanfar faces allegations she failed to maintain professional standards and was incompetent in her cosmetic surgery practice, between 2005 and 2007, in respect to 28 patients at a discipline hearing held by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
Krista Stryland, 32, died after Yazdanfar performed a high volume liposuction procedure on her in 2007.
Dr. John Fielding, a plastic surgeon and investigator for the College, said yesterday Stryland's death wasn't a consequence of anaesthesia -- as the defence has suggested -- but of the surgery.
"The performance of the liposuction was below standard," Fielding said, adding Yazdanfar removed more fat than was stipulated by guidelines.
Defence lawyer Tracey Tremayne-Lloyd said Yazdanfar didn't cause any internal injuries to Stryland during the surgery.
"There was no surgical mistake that caused the death of Stryland," Tremayne-Lloyd said yesterday, referring to a coroner's report.
Fielding said, however, the coroner wouldn't find every little vessel that would bleed.
The hearing has heard Stryland became unresponsive an hour after she was put in a recovery room and Yazdanfar's clinic didn't call emergency services until 40 minutes after that.
When paramedics arrived, Stryland was ventilated, chalky and in a pool of blood.
Paramedics performed CPR on the way to the hospital, but she never regained vital signs.
Fielding also testified that from Stryland's chart, Yazdanfar didn't meet the standard of care for obtaining informed consent for the risks of liposuction.
Fielding conceded he never met Stryland and based on the evidence at the hearing, couldn't say what level of consent she understood.
"There is no evidence Dr. Yazdanfar didn't explain the risks," Tremayne-Lloyd said.
Fielding also said that Yazdanfar was grossly reckless for taking 6.7 litres of fat and liquid from Stryland when guidelines set by plastic surgeons stipulate not more than five litres at a time.
KEVIN.CONNOR@SUNMEDIA.CA
