DUBAI // A woman described as morbidly obese died after a "tummy tuck" operation that removed 23 kilograms of fat and her abdominal wall, a court heard today.
MH, a 39-year-old Emirati mother of six, was said to be aware that her obesity made the cosmetic procedure - technically known as an abdominoplasty - risky, but decided to press ahead anyway. The procedure makes the abdomen more firm by removing excess skin and fat.
Her Brazilian plastic surgeon, the 39-year-old LO, and the anaesthetist ND, a 46-year-old from India, are facing charges in the Dubai Court of Misdemenours of causing her death in June 2010.
ND pleaded not guilty while LO failed to appear. LO has previously protested his innocence.
Following a five-hour operation on June 8, the woman complained of severe chest pain and shortness of breath and was taken into the intensive care unit. Despite what were described as "aggressive" resuscitation efforts, she was declared dead on the morning of the next day.
Court records said the patient was aware that her "morbid obesity" increased the risks of the operation, but she insisted on having the surgery.
The anaesthetist ND said he warned the surgeon LO against doing the operation but that he insisted. "I told him that only few doctors in the entire world carry out this procedure," said ND.
He said it was the first time he had been part of such an operation on a person as obese as MH. However, he added that "all the results of her tests to show if she was fit for the surgery came out good".
LO told prosecutors before the trial that he had carried out several similar procedures in the country.
He said the patient knew about him through a clinic held by his friend. He said MH complained to him about the difficulties her weight gave her. "She told me she couldn't move or walk easily and often needed the help of those around her," said LO.
MH's brother, an Armed Forces officer, said the family were given her corpse two days after her death, as the Bur Dubai Police Station had referred it for an autopsy.
A date for the next hearing is yet to be determined.
salamir@thenational.ae
MEDIEVIL (1998)
Developer: SCE Studio Cambridge
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Console: PlayStation, PlayStation 4 and 5
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kinetic 7
Started: 2018
Founder: Rick Parish
Based: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Industry: Clean cooking
Funding: $10 million
Investors: Self-funded
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
THE SPECS
Engine: 4-cylinder 2.5-litre / 2-litre turbo
Power: 188hp / 248hp
Torque: 244Nm / 370Nm
Transmission: 7-speed auto
On sale: now
Price: From Dh110,000
Company Profile
Company name: Cargoz
Date started: January 2022
Founders: Premlal Pullisserry and Lijo Antony
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 30
Investment stage: Seed
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
Company Profile
Name: HyveGeo
Started: 2023
Founders: Abdulaziz bin Redha, Dr Samsurin Welch, Eva Morales and Dr Harjit Singh
Based: Cambridge and Dubai
Number of employees: 8
Industry: Sustainability & Environment
Funding: $200,000 plus undisclosed grant
Investors: Venture capital and government
ANATOMY OF A FALL
Director: Justine Triet
Starring: Sandra Huller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner
Rating: 5/5
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
BACK TO ALEXANDRIA
Director: Tamer Ruggli
Starring: Nadine Labaki, Fanny Ardant
Rating: 3.5/5
'Spies in Disguise'
Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
Stars: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan and Roshida Jones
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
