That same document though says that a 911 call was not made until 7:35 p.m. and Nguyen never regained consciousness. Mr. Rex L. Meeker Did he really leave her alone? This could have easily been an LA toxicity. Our hope is that this will be the beginning of bringing justice and a sense of closure to Emmalyns family., In a statement, the family shared that they are hopeful about "finally getting justice for Emmalyn. Veteran investigative reporter Brian Maass has broken countless major stories at CBS News Colorado and established a high level of trust and credibility in the community. FOX31 first reported on Nguyen's condition on Dec. 18, the day her parents filed a lawsuit that names the practice, its owner Dr. Geoffrey Kim, nurse anesthetist Rex Meeker, registered nurse . "Snowed" means "sedated," according to Woodruff. ", Emmalyn Nguyen, left, was 18 when she went into a coma and died after saving up thousands of dollars for breast implants from Dr. Geoffrey Kim. Robert Painter is an award-winning medical malpractice attorney at Painter Law Firm PLLC, in Houston, Texas. 6. Meeker was also sued as a result of a 2009 case during which a woman died after suffering brain damage during her breast augmentation surgery, KDVR-TV reported. Nurse anesthetist Rex Meeker also faces a charge of manslaughter. Shes young, shes healthy, shell be okay, its just taking her long to wake up, Nguyens mother, Lynn Fam, told CBS Denver. Meeker is also facing a felony reckless manslaughter charge and turned himself in to authorities on Friday. Nguyen had gone to Kim at Colorado Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery for a breast augmentation on Aug. 1, 2019. . Additional Locations. Her family says she has suffered severe brain damage and will likely remain in this condition for the rest of her life. If its LAST and the surgeon is the one who injected it then its the surgeons fault in that case. An arrest warrant for . When selecting a surgeon, its not only important to be comfortable with the surgeons technical competence, but also to understand the location where the surgery will occurand the emergency capabilities. You dont get dropped from a criminal case when there is evidence you were culpable. Dr. Kim appeared on KUSA's paid programming Colorado and Company in the past. He went on to say that Kim initially reported that Nguyen had gone into cardiac arrest in front of multiple people and was "directly" transferred to the hospital, the document says. Anesthesiology. Lafayette, CO 80026 (Boulder County). ", Woodruff, their attorney, calls the delay in summoning help "unbelievable. Nguyen's death warrant was issued "after extensive criminal review," the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday. Share 41 Tweet 26. The patient never regained consciousness. The document also notes CPR was performed between two and four times at the plastic surgery center. They ruined Emmalyn's life, not just hers but all of ours. The teen never even made it into surgery. and nurse-anesthetist, Rex Meeker, CRNA who caused Emmalyn's catastrophic brain injury on Aug. 1, 2019: that . Please enter valid email address to continue. CRNA should have not waited to call 911 regardless of what the surgeon said. Last summer, her daughter Emmalyn Nguyen, 18, decided to have breast augmentation performed by Greenwood Village doctor Dr. Geoffrey Kim. A Colorado plastic surgeon who lost an 18-year-old patient during a breast augmentation procedure is behind bars outside Denver on charges of aggravated assault and criminally negligent homicide. sadly, it had the same outcome. She said at various points, staff members misled her about what had occurred. The suit was eventually settled out of court and the terms are confidential. On February 27, 2020, the Board entered a stipulation and final agency order that placed Dr. Kim on probation. Most individuals choose to get a bachelor's degree in the field of biology, natural sciences or a . "In the context of surgery and anesthesia, it means to give a larger dose of anesthesia than the patient would normally get, in relation to age and weight," he told Fox News Digital. During discovery in many cases, weve obtained emergency transfer agreements between outpatient surgery centers and hospitals. 14420 W Meeker Blvd Ste 211. The anesthesia care wasnt provided by a physician. At roughly 7:30 p.m., Kim told her mother it was time to call 911, the affidavit says. I'm a little shocked they wait that long for help. All rights reserved. . The lawsuit says that the pair, Dr. Geoffrey Kim and nurse anesthetist Rex Meeker, left Nguyen "unobserved" for 15 minutes after putting her under anesthesia, which the parents claim is contrary . "I was fine with it," said Fam. At one point, Kim came out to the waiting room and also told Nguyen's mother she was "fine" but said it was taking longer than expected for her to wake up, the affidavit says. He said Everything is fine, Emmalyn is fine, everything is good, Fam told KCNC, recalling what Kim told her. Connect to great care anywhere with My AZ Doc. There are a lot of things that caught my attention about this tragic case. General Anesthesiology. Woodruff also released his own statement: "It is very rare for a prosecutor to bring criminal charges against health care providers. Rex L. Meeker, CRNA earned a degree of a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. This almost seems like he cut a deal to testify and save himself. Privacy Policy. He turned himself in to authorities on Wednesday, the sheriff's office said and was released after posting bond. Obviously, they are overwhelmingly happy that finally there will be some justice for Emmalyn, but at the same time, this brings up the whole ordeal all over again and it kind of has reawakened the trauma they went through," said David Woodruff, who is the attorney for Nguyens family. "In terms of the lawsuit filed against the plastic surgeon, Geoffrey Kim, M.D. I firmly believe that anesthesia staffing should be part of the informed consent conversation and pre-anesthesia evaluation thats required by the standard of care. When an entire team of healthcare professionals realizes shes in cardiac arrest, they perform CPR then they don't call 911 for five and a half hours. Hopefully bringing criminal charges will bring out the truth about what happened and will bring justice for Emmalyn., Kim, who turned himself in with his attorney, was also released after posting a $5,000 bond. On Aug. 15, 2019, Nguyen's mother went to police and stated that her daughter was in the hospital with brain damage and that she believed Kim "had caused her to be there," the affidavit says. FDA CALLS FOR HIGHLIGHTED BREAST IMPLANT WARNINGS, PATIENT CHECKLIST, "The treatment for a brain injury is to cool the brain within 6 hours to reduce swelling," Woodruff said. Gilbert, AZ 85233. Lynn Fam tends to her daughter Emmalyn Nguyen. In fact, after handling hundreds of medical negligence cases over my legal career, Ive only seen one physician face criminal prosecution and a prison sentence. Meeker was reportedly involved in a similar incident in 2007. Emmalyn Nguyen had lived "in a. After graduating high school, Nguyen decided to get a breast augmentation at Colorado Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery to improve her image, the station reported. (credit: CBS). That worked out well for his defense . After 22 days, she was transported to a rehabilitation hospital where she receives around the clock medical care. Kims license to practice medicine in Colorado was put on probation on Feb. 27, 2020, for three years by the state medical board. We still haven't been able to get closure from Emmalyn's death. When asked if he believed Kim had deliberately misled him, he said he didn't know, but went on to say it "seemed like it had to have been deliberate.". A plastic surgeon in Colorado is facing criminal charges after one of his patients died as a result of a botched procedure. / CBS Colorado. msn back to msn home news Skip To . "It is very rare for a prosecutor to bring criminal charges against health care providers," said David Woodruff, an attorney for patient Emmalyn Nguyens family. "By preventing calls to 911 and delaying treatment for 6 hours, they caused her brain injury to be much more severe.". You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! "We just really want to know what happened, what was the truth, what happened back there", said Lynn Fam, during an interview with CBS4. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, "We just want you to go home, we're all waiting for you, OK?". . (2) A registered nurse who is qualified by special training to administer anesthesia in collaboration with a physician or dentist and who can assist in the care of patients who are in critical condition. State medical records show Kim has had no previous disciplinary actions against his medical license. Nguyen's family filed a lawsuit against Dr. Kim and nurse anesthetist Rex Meeker, claiming that they did not seek emergency help during the procedure and delayed her hospitalization for nearly . New York Man Protects Baby as Racist Woman Lunges Screaming Racial Slurs, Protesters urge Mayor Adams to stop looming construction of 30-story mega jail in Manhattans Chinatown, Gemma Chan, Henry Golding and More Raising $70K for UK Campaign to Stop Asian Hate, Shanghai woman to donate $1.5 million apartment to the government after getting inspired by Chow Yun-fat, Emmalyn Nguyen, 18, underwent the procedure at Dr. Geoffrey Kims. administered by a nurse instead of an anesthesiologist," David Woodruff, the attorney representing Nguyen's parents, told PEOPLE. "CRNA Rex Meeker maintains that contrary to claims in the lawsuit and those being made in the media, the complications in Ms. Nguyen's surgery were not related to inappropriate care on his . since February 11, 2007, She said her daughter, a graduate of Mountain Range High School, was healthy and had saved up for the $6,000 procedure, which many of her friends and family had undergone before. Featured Image via Emmalyn Nguyen's family (left) and CBS Denver (right). Mr. Rex L. Meeker has 15 years of experience in nurse anesthesiology. According to the affidavit, it's unclear how much anesthesia Nguyen was actually given because Meeker's notes in the chart are illegible. He said that is something he would have done sooner if he had known she had not been awake for hours, the affidavit says. This time, its plastic surgeon Geoffrey Kim, MD, who was scheduled to perform an elective breast augmentation procedure. It was alleged he induced her and left her unmonitored but that did not actually happen. Feds sue water company for rupture damaging Rocky Mountain National Park -- again, Family gets unexpected bill after Kaiser Permanente Colorado software error that resulted in refunds to thousands, Skygazers will have a great view Wednesday of two planets that look like they are almost touching. The family sued Kim and nurse anesthetist Rex Meeker for negligence. "I just had kind of a weird feeling," said Fam. ", Meeker, the nurse anesthetist, was involved in a similar situation in 2007. Colorado plastic surgeon charged after patient, 18, died in botched breast implant surgery Dr Geoffrey Kim and his nurse anesthetist, Rex Meeker, have been charged in the death of Emmalyn. But you may not have the right to request a physician anesthesiologists care. The motion to dismiss charges against Rex Meeker indicates that prosecution is "no longer in the interests" of justice due to the discovery of new evidence and interviews since the case was filed earlier this year.. Finally, at 7:35 p.m., the lawsuit says Meeker, the nurse anesthetist, called 911. Join Facebook to connect with Rex Meeker and others you may know. The ER doctor said he thought it was strange that an 18-year-old went into cardiac arrest and after his first evaluation said he felt things were "abnormal," according to the affidavit. The CRNA then administered medications to reverse the sedation. in Greenwood Village on Aug. 1, 2019. In a prior order from January 2, 2020, the Board noted that the CRNA administered 250 mg of lidocaine with epinephrine and 62.5 mg of bupivacaine. In 4 years, Lori Lightfoot went from breakout political star to divisive mayor of a Chicago beset by pandemic and crime, Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called dont say gay law, Drone crashes at Disneyland after hovering over visitors heads See video, Rapper Travis Scott wanted for assaulting Manhattan club sound engineer, destroying $12K in equipment, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Rex Meeker, the nurse anesthetist who gave Emmalyn the anesthesia, eventually called paramedics, court docs allege. Kim, who reportedly revived Nguyen after her first cardiac arrest, allegedly misled her family into thinking that everything is fine., He said everything is fine, Emmalyn is fine, everything is good. The document goes on to say that Nguyen was given nine separate doses of anesthetic reversal agents, including Narcan, over a one-hour period. If convicted, both could face significant prison time, 9NEWS legal expert Scott Robinson said. There will probably be a civil case next where the burden of proof is less and he'll be roped in again. Captain Travis Stewart with the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office said, "We opened this case in August 2019. Not for the "stupid price" of $150 an acre foot. Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are not physicians, but their lobbyists and professional associations are advocating for CRNAs to have the right to have independent practices unsupervised by an anesthesiologist. The teen never even made it into surgery. But until you see all the evidence, no one knows. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Here's why. The procedure took place at Kim's Greenwood Village office, Colorado Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery. Nguyen suffered severe brain damage and was in a minimally conscious state before she died in October 2020. The teen was reportedly taken to a nearby hospital - but she was transferred to a rehab hospital to recover 22 days later. Every day we help real people who have suffered catastrophic injuries or death because of medical negligence. Call 281-580-8800, Lingual nerve injury left patient with numb tongue, loss of taste, IV infiltration or extravasation can cause serious injuries, People over 25 years old have higher risk, require extra precautions, Treatments and surgeries require both an order and consent, Texas Supreme Court provides further guidance on how tort reform periodic payment law applies. We still haven't been able to get closure from Emmalyn's death. "I just had kind of a weird feeling," Nguyens mother, Lynn Fam, told reporters after filing the lawsuit. Veteran investigative reporter Brian Maass has broken countless major stories at CBS News Colorado and established a high level of trust and credibility in the community. Dec 20, 2019. Delays expected; Next with Kyle Clark full show (3/1/23), Jefferson County students build intergenerational friendships, NOAA forecast misses as Denver records 14th-coldest winter in history, Allegations of neglect at Denvers jail after 71-year-old inmate dies, Mom accused of killing daughter while faking her illness gets 16 years. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office said on Wednesday that they obtained arrest warrants for Dr. Geoffrey Kim, 52, and former nurse anesthetist Rex Meeker in connection with the death of 18-year . According to Arapahoe County Sherriff's Office, 52-year-old Dr. Geoffrey Kim turned himself in on Wednesday and was charged with criminally negligent homicide and first-degree aggravated assault. She fell into a coma and died 14 months later, deputies said. This tragic case illustrates some common themes that Ive written about over the years, based on my experience in handling medical negligence and wrongful death cases. Interestingly, the Board order has a section with the heading ONSITE ANESTHESIOLOGIST. It requires that during the duration of Dr. Kims probation, hes only allowed to perform surgical procedures that require general anesthesia and conscious sedation with an anesthesiologist present in on site. A Colorado teen went into cardiac arrest and suffered irreversible brain damage just as she was about to undergo breast implant surgery and now her family is blaming doctors for the botched procedure. Even though it will never bring our daughter back, at least this will help others from getting hurt and prevent ruining other families' lives. Last Wednesday, the Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office announced that Kim had surrendered himself over to the police following an arrest warrant. Dr. Geoffrey Kim and nurse anesthetist Rex Meeker are accused of failing to call 911 for nearly 5 hours after Emmalyn Nguyen's heart stopped on Aug. 1. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "But the worst thing is she . 13555 W Mcdowell Rd Ste 201. . Soma Sara website share their accounts of sexual violence. Kim turned himself in to authorities Wednesday and was released on $5,000 bond. The plastic surgeon, Dr. Kim, entered the operating room and immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Hopefully bringing criminal charges will bring out the truth about what happened and will bring justice for Emmalyn.". Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. Meeker is facing a manslaughter charge in . Instead, a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) was the sole anesthesia provider. And they never even started the case according to the article? A warrant has been issued for Meeker's arrest. As a patient, you may be comfortable with the training and competence of a CRNA. Third, its alleged that the surgeon and CRNA took over five hours to call 911. Kim and Rex Meeker, a nurse who has been charged with manslaughter in Nguyen's death, allegedly . ", "The judicial system cannot bring Emmalyn back, but what it can do is punish the people who caused her death and send a message to the entire medical community that doctors and nurses will be held to the same standard as other people. Shes young, shes healthy, shell be okay, its just taking her long to wake up, Nguyens mother, Lynn Fam, told, Nguyen remained in a vegetative state prior to her. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Facebook to connect with Rex Meeker and others you may be comfortable with rex meeker anesthesiologist heading ANESTHESIOLOGIST. 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