An Ohio doctor is reportedly suing a surgery center alleging that his patient died of a fatal overdose after a “tummy tuck” procedure.
Dr. Shahryar Tork, a plastic surgeon based in Cincinnati, filed a civil lawsuit against JourneyLite Surgery and its anesthesia partner Associated Anesthesiologists of Springfield, Inc., claiming negligence and underqualified personnel led to the death of patient Rachel Tussey, according to WLWT. Tussey had a “tummy tuck” at the surgery center and was reportedly later found to be unresponsive during her recovery.
When Tussey was transported to a hospital, she was allegedly discovered to be “brain dead,” the outlet reported. Her husband later said she died in a video shared online. (RELATED: Judge Sentences Man To Castration, Lets Him Decide Between Two Options)
Tork said the surgery went well and Tussey needed “very low doses of pain medication throughout the procedure,” according to the lawsuit cited by WLWT. Tork alleged that two nurses at the facility administered 150 micrograms of fentanyl and .5 mg of Dilaudid that caused Tussey to suffer a fatal overdose.
“JourneyLite’s unqualified post-anesthesia-care unit nurse administered an opioid overdose, resulting in Mrs. Tussey’s death,” the lawsuit read, according to PEOPLE. Workers at the surgery center allegedly tried to cover up the overdose by falsifying medical documents.
“Dr. Tork brings this lawsuit to ensure that the truth comes out and that no other patient and no other patient’s family suffers the same tragedy,” the complaint continued.
Tork alleged that Tussey’s death was not a complication of her “tummy tuck,” claiming she’d still be alive if “other people had done their job right” during an April 7 press conference.
Tork claimed the surgery center had a history of “over-sedating” patients and that one of the nurses overseeing Tussey’s care had been fired for “incompetence” before she was brought back on, according to the lawsuit obtained by WLWT. Tork also alleged that the anesthesia team exited the surgery center amid post-anesthesia care against Ohio administrative code.
The surgery center responded by saying personnel followed healthcare standards, state auditors did not find fault, and the family declined conducting an autopsy to determine a cause of death. “It is unfortunate and somewhat shocking that Dr.Tork claims to be the victim here due apparently to the loss of his reputation in a case where the Tussey family tragically lost Rachel,” a law firm said in a statement on behalf of the surgery center.
Tussey documented her “tummy tuck” journey on her TikTok account @midlifeunmuted_. A GoFundMe fundraiser set up to benefit her family has generated over $40,000 as of publication.
Tork has called for a trial against the entities named in the lawsuit and is pursuing compensatory and punitive damages, according to WLWT.
The Daily Caller contacted the JourneyLite Surgery Center, who did not immediately comment on the lawsuit.