A prominent Colorado plastic surgeon is facing manslaughter charges following the death of an 18-year old patient 14 months after a botched surgery.
Dr. Geoffrey Kim, 52, turned himself in to Arapahoe County Sheriff’s officials on Wednesday, Feb. 16, after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Prosecutors have yet to file a criminal complaint, but the surgeon is expected to face multiple charges, including felony negligent homicide, reckless manslaughter, and misdemeanor obstruction of service, according to Vikki Migoya, a spokeswoman for the 18th Judicial District’s Office of the District Attorney.
Kim was released after posting a $5,000 bond shortly after his arrest.
Kim was slated to perform a breast augmentation surgery on Emmalyn Nguyen, 18, on Aug. 1, 2019, when the teen slipped into cardiac arrest after being placed under anesthesia by nurse anesthetist Rex Meeker, according to investigators.
Investigators said Kim admitted he did not call 911 for at least five hours. Nguyen was left brain dead and unable to speak or walk. She died 14 months later.
In a statement, Travis Stewart, Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office Captain of Investigations, said, “The investigation took more than two years to complete and required dozens of interviews and search warrants.” “We hope that this is the first step in bringing justice and closure to Emmalyn’s family.”
Rex Meeker is also charged with felony reckless manslaughter and is due to surrender on Friday, Feb. 18, according to Ginger Delgado, a spokesperson for the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office. A warrant for his arrest has also been issued.
It’s unusual for a medical doctor to face criminal charges over patient care, according to Lou Shapiro, a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles, but the claimed facts in Kim’s case are extraordinary.