A Colorado plastic surgeon, Dr. Geoffrey Kim, has been convicted of attempted reckless manslaughter and obstruction of telephone service following the death of 19-year-old Emmalyn Nguyen. Ms. Nguyen suffered cardiac arrest and fell into a coma during a breast augmentation procedure in 2019 after receiving an excessive dose of anesthesia. The jury's verdict comes after a week-long trial, acquitting Kim of the more serious charge of negligent homicide.

The incident unfolded when the then-18-year-old Nguyen was administered anesthesia prior to her surgery. Nurse anesthetist Rex Meeker, according to the family's lawyer, David Woodruff, administered seven times the standard dose, a practice sometimes referred to as "snowing," intended to induce a quicker onset of unconsciousness. Nguyen lost consciousness and experienced cardiac arrest before the surgical incision was even made. While "snowing" is not illegal, Woodruff highlighted the apparent lack of attention to Nguyen's distress until her heart stopped approximately seven minutes later.

Crucially, Meeker testified that he and other staff members advocated for calling 911, but Kim allegedly refused. Although Nguyen's heartbeat was eventually restored, she sustained irreversible brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. Woodruff emphasized the proximity of the surgical office to a fire department, lamenting the lost time that could have potentially saved Nguyen's life. Kim's legal team, however, placed the blame on Meeker for the anesthetic overdose, arguing the delayed 911 call wasn't the primary cause of death.

Nguyen tragically remained in a vegetative state for over a year before passing away. Her family reached a $3 million settlement in a lawsuit against Kim, Meeker, and the practice. While Kim's license was temporarily suspended following the incident, he continued to perform surgeries until his trial. The felony conviction is expected to lead to permanent revocation of his medical license. Meeker has since relinquished his license. Kim's continued practice up until the trial is a point of concern for Woodruff, who underscores the potential risk to other patients.