A plastic surgeon is facing a charge of manslaughter after a teenager was left brain dead following breast enhancement surgery.
Emmalyn Nguyen died on October 4, just over a year after she went under the knife for the cosmetic procedure aged 18.
The tragic teen, from Colorado, US, had to be moved into a nursing home and was being fed through a tube and breathing with an oxygen machine during her final months.
She had suffered a cardiac arrest on the operating table when she was allegedly left alone while under anaesthetic.
Dr Geoffrey Kim, who performed the surgery, turned himself in to Arapahoe County Sheriff’s officials on Wednesday after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Prosecutors have yet to file the criminal complaint, but the surgeon is expected to face several charges, including felony negligent homicide, reckless manslaughter and misdemeanour obstruction of service.
Dr Kim was released shortly after his arrest and posted a $5,000 (approximately £3,600) bond.
Investigators said Kim admitted he did not call 911 for at least five hours.
And Ms Nguyen was left brain dead and unable to speak or walk following the surgery.
Anaesthetist Mr Meeker is also facing a felony reckless manslaughter charge and is expected to turn himself in sometime on Friday.
A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Travis Stewart, Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office Captain of Investigations, said in a statement: “The investigation has taken more than two years to complete and involved dozens of interviews and search warrants.
“Our hope is that this will be the beginning of bringing justice and a sense of closure to Emmalyn’s family.“
Lou Shapiro, a Los Angeles-based criminal defence lawyer, said it’s highly unusual for a medical doctor to face criminal charges over patient care, but the alleged facts in Kim’s case are “disturbing.”
