Guilty plastic surgeon: He used patient's photos to evaluate liposuction

A Montreal plastic surgeon has pleaded guilty to evaluating a patient in photos rather than in person for liposuction and not telling her about options other than surgery.

d^R Daniel Sarageya Guberman pleaded guilty to four offenses before the College of Physicians of Quebec (CMQ) this morning.

On November 4, 2019, a specialist doctor performed liposuction at Clinica Médico Esthetique du Vieux-Longueuil on a patient whose identity has been protected. However, it was only on the morning of the surgery, which he did in private, that he met the woman and made the diagnosis.

Photo reviews

The latter, who was “extremely thin,” had been evaluated at the clinic two months earlier, but by a nurse, according to a summary of facts filed in testimony. According to D's counsel^R Guberman, running a clinic requires tasks like this.

“She took photos of the patient and sent them to the doctor to take a position on the recommendation to intervene,” summarized counsel for CMQ trustee Alex Vandal-Millet.

Also doctors need to meet the patient before making an assessment.

“The way I do these things is very different from my normal aesthetic practice because I always personally conduct the first consultation visits with patients,” says Dr.^R Guberman in Summary of Facts. I am sorry and I have difficulty explaining why I did not insist on holding the first consultation […] I am used to doing that.”

Moreover, Dr. Lawyer M^e Melanie Poisson added that the clinic “still works the same way.” The doctor stopped working there in 2021 due to a “difference in policy”.

On the day of surgery, the specialist pleaded guilty to not offering the patient options other than liposuction.

“She was under the impression that there was only one treatment option available to her, which was not the case,” continued Mr Vandal-Millet.

Moreover, the patient was dissatisfied with the operation and returned to see the doctor for corrections, we read in the summary of facts. She had more fat removed at another clinic where D practiced^R Guberman, a month later. A year later, she is still not satisfied.

Invoice without details

Additionally, the CMQ criticized the doctor for submitting an invoice that only included the total amount of the intervention, but no details on the various procedures.

“The defendant deprives the patient of an informed decision on fees,” said Mr.^e Vandal-Millet.

Both sides recommended a 10-week concession.

In practice since 2010, D^R Guberman has no disciplinary history. He works at a private clinic in Westmount and at the Jean-Talon hospital. The disciplinary board has to take a decision within three months.