Donna Butterfield, a 30-year-old beautician from Wrexham, North Wales, met a tragic end last September, following a breast augmentation operation in the Balearic Islands, Spain.
The surgery, which cost US$ 11,650, was performed to correct an imbalance from a previous operation. However, due to a pre-existing heart condition, Butterfield had a fatal reaction to the anesthetic, resulting in a heart attack.
After nearly two weeks in intensive care, the young woman passed away on September 13. According to family reports, communication with the clinic before the procedure was conducted exclusively via email, with few precautions taken by those responsible.
The situation was further complicated when an anesthetist, already convicted of manslaughter in another case and under a medical ban, participated in the surgery. He was arrested by the police, who confirmed his continued medical practice despite the prohibition.
Butterfield’s family, shocked by the situation, flew to Mallorca, where they received confusing and unsatisfactory explanations about what had happened. The emergency services that responded to the call were alarmed by Butterfield’s condition, especially because cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) had not been properly administered.
The Spanish National Police detained the 69-year-old clinic director, accusing him of gross negligence manslaughter and violation of a medical ban. Additionally, another healthcare professional involved in the operation was charged with the same crime, while a third could not be charged due to his sudden death two months after the procedure.
The investigation revealed several irregularities in the procedure, leading to questions about the safety and regulation of plastic surgeries, especially in cases involving patients with significant pre-existing conditions.
Source: NyPost