SOMERVILLE, Mass. — A law enforcement source tells Boston 25 News that one woman is dead and another is in critical condition after the pair underwent liposuction in a Somerville home.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan confirmed that authorities are investigating the death of an Everett woman and the hospitalization of a Somerville woman after they “underwent the same medical procedure” inside a home last week.
On Friday around 4:30 p.m., Everett Police responded to a Bucknam Street home for a woman in medical distress. That woman, the 35-year-old resident of the home, was transported to CHA Everett where she was pronounced dead, according to Ryan.
Emergency transmissions indicated she had come back from surgery earlier in the day -- and that EMTs could not get a blood pressure. During efforts to revive the woman, police were alerted to the possibility the woman underwent illegal surgery -- which was eventually traced to 91 Central Street in Somerville -- a khaki-colored triple-decker with no indication it serves as a medical office.
Sources told 25 Investigates on Monday that both women underwent a liposuction procedure. It’s unknown who performed these procedures -- though the source said it was a female. It remains unknown whether she had a medical license and/or experience performing liposuction.
A co-worker of the deceased woman also underwent liposuction and also ended up in the hospital, where she is in critical condition, a source tells Boston 25 News.
On Friday, police removed what appeared to be medical waste from the house.
Such experience is critical. While liposuction in the U.S. carries an overall complication rate of under three percent, it can result in serious side effects -- especially if large volumes are removed. As fluid in the body shifts, organs such as the kidneys, heart and lungs come under strain. Other possible side effects include infection, internal puncturing, blood clots and hemorrhage.
DA Ryan would not confirm the women underwent liposuction.
“We do know that one individual who had some type of medical procedure has passed away,” Ryan said. “We know that there’s another who’s hospitalized.”
The cause of the Everett woman’s death is pending as medical examiners investigate.
State and local police assist the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office with the investigation.
Anyone with any information should contact Somerville Police at (617) 625-1600 or Massachusetts State Police Detectives at 781-897-6600.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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