The state says a Florida doctor ‘lacked competency’ after his liposuction patient died
The state Board of Medicine suspended a Spring Hill doctor 90 days after, the state says, he performed a liposuction surgery for which he “lacked competency” and the patient died after his mistakes.
Andre Brooks’ Florida Department of Health online license profile says his specialties are internal medicine and cardiovascular disease. The Florida Department of Health administrative complaint said Brooks completed a two-day proctorship in awake tumescent liposuction in July 2013.
“[Brooks] accepted and performed the tumescent liposuction procedure on Patient CN, despite knowing or having a reason to know that he was not competent to perform the procedure,” the complaint said.
Brooks, who has been licensed in Florida since 1991, officially neither admits nor denies the statements by the state.
But the medical malpractice case entry in the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation says Brooks’ insurer paid $142,500 and “insured physician was not formally trained in liposuction procedure. Insured was advised to seriously consider whether liposuction surgery, such as what was performed on this patient, needs to be part of his medical practice.”
Brooks’ liposuction and bowel perforation
According to the complaint, Brooks performed a tumescent liposuction procedure on 67-year-old woman “CN” on Dec. 12, 2014. Four days later, her son called Brooks office and said CN was having pain. Brooks prescribed hydrocodone/acetaminophen 10-300 mg pain medication.
Five days later, Dec. 19, CN told Brooks she felt nausea. Brooks prescribed Zofran.
The complaint said CN went to the Oak Hill Hospital emergency room three days later complaining of “an altered mental status.”
“Patient CN was diagnosed with bowel perforation, septic shock and renal failure,” the complaint said.
She was released to a rehabilitation facility on Feb. 6, 2015, but she was back at Oak Hill on April 12, 2015 with a stroke. She died May 28, 2015.
“Based on his lack of training and experience, [Brooks] was not competent to perform the tumescent liposuction procedure on Patient CN,” the complaint said.
In addition to the 90-day suspension, which starts Jan. 21, the Board of Medicine issued a reprimand on Brooks’ license; a $15,000 fine; ordered reimbursement of $4781.86 administrative costs; ruled that he can’t perform plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery “with exception of minor procedures;” and required that he complete continuing medical education courses in risk management and ethics.
This story was originally published December 31, 2021 at 4:21 PM with the headline "The state says a Florida doctor ‘lacked competency’ after his liposuction patient died."
