A California plastic surgeon found dead in a backyard pool last week had previously lost her medical license after a fatal botched tummy tuck, with newly obtained records showing the patient died just one day after undergoing the cosmetic operation.
Sarwa Aldoori, 71, a former surgeon, was named by the Kern County Coroner after her body was found Tuesday evening at a residence in Bakersfield.
Police said the case is still under investigation, and officials have not yet determined the cause, manner or full circumstances of her death.
Her death comes more than two years after California medical regulators permanently stripped her of her license for failing to comply with a court-ordered probation program connected to the patient’s death, according to documents from the California Medical Board.
Those records state that Aldoori faced several disciplinary allegations, including gross negligence, performing surgery and providing anesthesia at a surgical facility that was not accredited.
The board’s case involved a 43-year-old woman who met with Aldoori and her husband, Dr. Yakdan Alqaisi, on March 23, 2016, to discuss having a tummy tuck.
According to the records, Aldoori carried out the procedure on April 13, 2016, while Alqaisi handled anesthesia duties.
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The next day, the woman’s relatives dialed 911 after discovering she was unconscious and had no pulse. She was transported to Mercy Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead.
The Kern County Coroner determined the woman died from a fat embolism caused by the surgery, with adult respiratory distress syndrome listed as a contributing factor.
State regulators previously alleged Aldoori did not have sufficient training to perform the cosmetic procedure.
Aldoori, who spent roughly 35 years practicing as an OB-GYN, was one of two physicians at Bella Health and Beauty, a plastic surgery practice in northeast Bakersfield specializing in women’s health, wellness and cosmetic procedures.
Her disciplinary troubles began after accusations were filed in 2021 over the fatal surgery. She was initially placed on a seven-year probation, but Medical Board records show regulators later revoked her license after she refused to comply with the probation program.
The revocation became effective in July 2022 before Aldoori ultimately surrendered her California physician’s license in March 2024.
Authorities have not said whether foul play is suspected in Aldoori’s death and the investigation remains ongoing.
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