By Agency Reports
A Paris court has banned two surgeons from medical practice following the death of Belgian-Israeli billionaire diamond dealer, Ehud Arye Laniado, who died during a cosmetic procedure at a private clinic in France.
Laniado, 65, owner of Omega Diamonds, suffered a heart attack while undergoing a cosmetic enhancement procedure at the Saint-Honoré-Ponthieu aesthetic clinic in Paris. The clinic was known for treating wealthy clients, with procedures reportedly costing tens of thousands of euros.
An initial investigation into possible manslaughter was opened after his death but later shifted focus to charges including failure to assist a person in danger, drug-related offences, and practicing medicine without a valid licence.
On Wednesday, a Paris court sentenced the lead surgeon, identified as Guy H, to 15 months in prison and permanently revoked his licence to practise medicine. A second surgeon, who was present during the procedure, received a 12-month suspended sentence and was also permanently barred from medical practice.
The court further ordered the two men to pay fines of €50,000 and €20,000 respectively.
According to French media outlet Le Parisien, investigators questioned why emergency services were not immediately contacted after Laniado first showed signs of distress. Reports indicate an initial call for help was made earlier in the evening, but emergency responders were not contacted until nearly two hours later.
The defence argued that the symptoms did not initially suggest a cardiac emergency and pointed to Laniado’s prior medical history. His lawyer maintained that the heart attack could have occurred anywhere and was not directly caused by the procedure itself.
Despite these claims, the court ruled that critical delays in seeking emergency assistance contributed to the conviction.
A Paris-based medical practitioner, speaking anonymously, said the case highlighted longstanding concerns within elite cosmetic surgery circles, where regulations are sometimes ignored in pursuit of wealthy clientele.
@Daily Mirror