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Plastic surgery tourism?
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We flew to the Dominican Republic, taking with us Dr. Loren Borud, Sonia Wilmoth's plastic surgeon. Borud says he's concerned about complications he is seeing from some surgery performed there.
Dr. Borud: “There's significant judgment problems and significant technical problems that are occurring there.”
Corderi: “I can hear the plastic surgery society in the DR saying, you know, of course American doctors are saying that because they're losing business.”
Dr. Borud: “We're not having problems not having enough patients to operate on here in America. We're almost ethically bound to identify a problem that we think is really malpractice.”
Borud accompanied me when I met with Dr. Contreras to give his professional impression of the appointment
Dr. Borud: “He was perfectly willing to take the time and answer all of our questions.”
What Contreras did not do, Borud said, was ask me about my medical history. As a test, I told him I was taking a drug that should have disqualified me as a patient. It thins the blood and may cause excessive bleeding during the surgery. Dr. Contreras said it didn't matter. I could do surgery the next day.
Dr. Borud: “If this were the only evaluation that would be quite negligent.”
A few days later we took our cameras into the clinic after hours. This is the emergency room where Contreras told us patients who develop complications are treated. It's a tiny L-shaped room with no apparent medical equipment.
And to get there a critically ill patient would have to sit or stand in this narrow elevator, too small to accommodate a gurney.
During our investigation we met former patients from the United States who told us they were repulsed by conditions at the clinic. One woman says she was prescribed a skin cream for her scars that is not even intended for humans.
Perhaps most surprising is that Dr. Contreras is practicing at all. According to a 1999 court order obtained by Dateline NBC, Contreras' license in the Dominican Republic is suspended. We took the document to Roxana Reyes, an attorney at the prosecutor's office.
Corderi: “That shows you according to the law he should not be practicing medicine.”
Roxana Reyes: “Yes that's it.”
Corderi: “So why is he practicing medicine?
Reyes: “The problem is we don't have enough people to watch the thing.”
Corderi: “Isn't it just a matter of driving to the clinic, closing the doors and putting a lock on it? He seems to be laughing at the law.”
Reyes: “If he continues practicing without permission, he is violating the law.”
We wanted to talk to Dr. Contreras but he turned down our repeated requests for an interview. Instead he told Dominican journalists Dateline NBC was pressuring the prosecutors office on behalf of American plastic surgeons who were unhappy about losing business to the Dominican Republic. Contreras also told reporters that Maria Morel died from natural causes.
Days later, a judge decided Contreras should be jailed until he stands trial for involuntary homicide for the death of Marial Morel. He was taken into custody until his family posted bail.
Even though American surgeons we spoke with said Dr. Contreras may be an extreme example, they say it's important for people to research any surgeon they are considering, both here and abroad.
Scott Spear: “You know one difference between us and automobile -- you can throw the car away and buy a new one. But you're stuck with your body. You should make decisions about your body very carefully.”
But that advice comes too late for the Morel family particularly three year old Jose who is still waiting for his mother to come home.
Trabys: “It hurts every time he asks me like where's Mommy and I have to tell him she's dead. I know how much he misses his mother.”
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