Woman died after liposuction: inquest

A 26-year-old Melbourne woman who died three days after liposuction surgery was told her pain and bleeding were normal, an inquest has heard.

Real estate valuer Lauren James, of Kew, died on January 22, 2007, three days after having liposuction on her buttocks, knees and thighs.

In a statement, her partner Simon Dal Zotto said staff at the Centre of Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery in Caulfield North said Ms James' surgery had gone well and she was given painkillers to help her recover.

But over the next three days she remained in deep pain, was bleeding from her incisions, had diarrhoea and large blisters.

Mr Dal Zotto told the inquest he made a series of calls to the clinic about her condition.

On the day before her death, he took her into the clinic and she was assessed by medical director Dr Mervyn Cass who told him to keep changing her bandages and keep compression on the bleeding areas.

The next morning - the day of her death - Mr Dal Zotto again called the centre saying Ms James was still in a lot of pain and was losing a lot of blood.

He was told to bring Ms James in and she was examined by Dr Gerard Sormann, who said her bleeding was normal and gave her more pain medication.

Mr Dal Zotto said Dr Cass suggested she double her dosage of the pain medication Endone if the pain continued.

He said Dr Cass told him if the pain worsened, he would consider admitting her to a hospital.

Mr Dal Zotto said Ms James was sent home where she remained in pain and bleeding.

He said he called the surgery several times later that day.

Mr Dal Zotto called Dr Cass, who said he would speak with surgeon Dr Tam Dieu and call him back in five minutes.

When he didn't hear back, Mr Dal Zotto contacted the clinic again but got an answering machine because it had closed for the day.

He then left three messages on the clinic's after-hours service asking Dr Cass for urgent help.

He eventually got a call from Dr Dieu who said Ms James' pain was normal and the blistering was nothing to be worried about.

He said Dr Dieu said she should be fine, and to give her a painkiller and see how she was overnight.

But later that day Ms James had two falls and an ambulance was called.

Mr Dal Zotto said he called Dr Cass to tell him he was calling an ambulance and was asked if paramedics could bring her to the surgery.

The paramedics refused.

They worked on her for 25 minutes but she died.

In his statement, Dr Dieu said Ms James' recovery had been uncomplicated and she was discharged on the day of her surgery without discomfort.

He said she was contacted by a nurse that night and was recovering well.

Dr Dieu said the incidence of death from liposuction was about one in 5000 and the risks were discussed with Ms James.

He said he had performed about 215 liposuction procedures between 2004 and 2007, and Ms James' case was the only death.

The inquest continues on Thursday.