The government has shut down the Body by Design facility following a surgery that resulted in the death of a patient.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) Chief Executive Officer David Kariuki said the facility did not meet the minimum standards required for operation.
“We have closed the facility until they meet certain standards,” Dr Kariuki told Nation.Africa , explaining the action as a precautionary measure taken in the interest of public safety as investigations continue.
Following the death of Lucy Ng'ang'a at the city cosmetic surgery clinic, the KMPDC initiated an investigation to examine the circumstances leading to the incident.
“A team has been dispatched to the facility to conduct a fact-finding mission aimed at assessing whether the necessary professional standards were met in Lucy's care. Any evidence of malpractice or deviation from established norms will be addressed with appropriate action, in line with applicable laws,” the Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said.
The patient, the wife of city businessman Francis Ng’ang’a Mundia, had checked into the facility and was discharged on October 22 and died four days later after a botched surgery, her friend posted.
“Her condition was so bad she ended up in the intensive Care Unit and died four days later,” the friend posted.
The family, in an obituary in one of the dailies, mourned her as a “loving wife, loving cousin, auntie and friend to many.” She is survived by four children — three sons and a daughter.
Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko recounted fond memories with Lucy, noting her strong support during his campaign for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat.
Cosmetic clinic Body by Design moves to court to challenge closure notice by KMPDC
“My family will dearly miss her, especially the good days we used to spend together with her over the holidays,” he shared.
Sonko added, “I will not forget how she campaigned for me and mobilised the people of Shelly Beach, Likoni, to support me.”
Liposuction is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to remove excess fat from specific areas of the body to create a more contoured and shapely appearance. It's often used to target areas like the abdomen, thighs, hips, buttocks, arms, neck, and back, where fat may be resistant to diet and exercise.
During the procedure, a surgeon makes small incisions in the target area and inserts a thin tube called a cannula, which is connected to a vacuum. The cannula is moved back and forth to break up fat cells, which are then suctioned out of the body.
According to the Body by Design Kenya website, Liposuction is “a very good way of body contouring and not a weight loss procedure” that would take 1-2 hours.
“It is recommended to patients who are already within their BMI range and are only looking to contour their body frame while still maintaining their original weight. For patients who might be overweight, Bariatric options for weight loss would be best recommended,” the website reads.
At the same time, the facility has moved to the High Court to overturn the closure.
It filed the case under a certificate of urgency on Thursday, October 31, 2024, urging the superior court to prohibit KMPDC from closing it down.
Its lawyer Danstan Omari is asking the High Court to intervene and issue orders prohibiting KMPDC from closing down the facility.
The lawyer is pressing for the cancellation of the closure notice pinned at the entrance of the medical facility arguing that it contravenes its rights to do business and discharge services to its clients.
In the evidence filed at the High Court, Omnicare Medical says it carries out contouring on its clients and has highly qualified personnel.
“The patient was declared fit for the medical procedure and the same was done,” the pleadings filed in court state.
Further evidence reveals that the woman was scheduled to be discharged on October 17, 2024, but requested to stay for one more day and left on October 18, 2024.
The court has been told the woman complained of chest pains and was attended to by doctors and nurses at the same facility (Omnicare) which is within Nairobi City.
She left the health facility on October 22, 2024, but passed on later while undergoing treatment in another city health facility.
A post-mortem was conducted on October 29, 2024, in the presence of a doctor from the health facility (Omnicare).
“That there is apprehension that the death might be attributed to the applicant (Omnicare medical) even though there are no official post-mortem results that have been shared with it,” Mr Omari states.
The court has been told that on October 31, 2024, KMPDC wrote to Omnicare requesting the patient's (woman’s) information and the academic credentials of the facility staff who attended to the deceased woman.
Omnicare has named KMPDC, the Ministry of Health and Nairobi County Director of Health as respondents.
