Spouse of Plastic Surgery Patient Who Died Sues
SANTA ANA — The husband of a La Habra woman who died after 10 1/2 hours of plastic surgery has sued the anesthesiologist and several doctors at the medical center where she was rushed when her condition deteriorated.
The suit brought by Ruben Fernandez does not name as a defendant the plastic surgeon himself, W. Earl Matory Jr., because Matory has filed for bankruptcy, instituting a stay of any civil proceedings against him. But the suit seeks to add Matory to the list of defendants if Fernandez can get that stay lifted.
Both Matory and the anesthesiologist, William Hoo, were stripped of their medical licenses in November by the Medical Board of California after a lengthy trial.
They had been accused of gross negligence in the death of Judy Fernandez, 44, on March 17, 1997. She died of blood loss after large-volume liposuction, a mini face lift, a brow lift and a laser resurfacing of the neck and face.
The procedures were performed at Matory’s outpatient surgery center in Irvine, but Fernandez never regained consciousness. She was taken to Irvine Medical Center, where she died.
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The anesthesiologist’s correct name is Robert K. Hoo, not William Hoo.
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