Breast surgery after-care ‘inadequate’

AN Italian plastic surgeon has been found guilty of professional misconduct in relation to the care he gave to a woman following breast augmentation surgery.

A Medical Council’s fitness to practise committee found Dr Marco Loiacono, 33, guilty of misconduct in relation to six out of 11 charges.

The doctor carried out the operation at the now defunct Advanced Cosmetic Surgery in Dublin in October 2006.

Catherine McCormack from Swords, Co Dublin, claimed that an implant in her breast became exposed after an infection set in.

Problems arose a few days after Ms McCormack had stitches removed on October 28, 2006, when her left breast became swollen, red and tender.

The 33-year-old mother-of-three has also instituted legal proceedings against the doctor.

Chair of the Committee, Dr Daniel O’Hare, said they found that Dr Loiacono failed to arrange for any or adequate post-operative treatment after becoming aware that Ms McCormack’s left breast had become infected.

The committee found that Dr Loiacono failed to remove the left breast implant in a proper and timely manner when he knew or ought to have known that conservative treatment was not indicated.

It was found that Dr Loiacono failed to arrange for appropriate measures to address Ms McCormack’s breast infection on or after November 9, 2006.

The doctor was also found guilty failing to remove the implant following his examination of Ms McCormack on or about November 9 and/or November 17 2006.

The committee also found that the doctor failed to maintain any or adequate records in respect to the care afforded to her.

And the committee found that the Dr Loiacono failed to apply adequate levels of clinical competence and/or judgment in respect of the care given by him to Ms McCormack.

Dr O’Hare said the committee’s recommendations would be presented to the Medical Council, which would rule on them.

The committee has recommended that Dr Loiacono undertakes an appropriate development programme.

Earlier, consultant plastic surgeon, Dr Peter Meagher, described Dr Loiacono’s care of Ms McCormack as fundamentally flawed and sub-standard.

Dr Meagher said the woman got a good cosmetic result and then ran into trouble and experienced a complication that was a recognised risk.

“Thereafter a number of very poor decisions were made in terms of her management,” he said.

Dr Loiacono was challenged on his claim that he was now practicing in Italy and Brazil as he had been included as a one of the medical team of Cosmedico, in Co Wicklow.