The family of a Tennessee mother of five, who tragically lost her life following an illegal Brazilian butt lift, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against both the doctor and the surgery center involved.
Erica Russell, a 33-year-old, passed away on June 16, 2021, after Dr. John Sampson inadvertently punctured her intestines, bladder, liver, and abdominal wall during the surgery. The fatal incident occurred when a fat deposit obstructed her bloodstream, leading to a catastrophic cardiac arrest.
Representing Russell’s family, the law firm Stewart Tilghman Fox & Bianchi & Cain issued a press release, revealing that Russell’s procedure commenced at 8:31 pm, and just over two hours later, she lost her life. Attorney Michael Levine expressed, “What happened to Ms. Russell should have never happened. This is assembly line medicine, and that’s what killed her.”
Dr. Sampson faced repercussions, being barred from performing Brazilian butt lift surgeries at Seduction Cosmetic Center in Coral Gables, Florida. Despite a $20,000 fine, he managed to retain his medical license.
Seduction Cosmetic Center, offering the procedure for $3,500, provides various cosmetic surgeries, including bosom augmentations, tummy tucks, liposuction, honeypot rejuvenation, among others.
Investigations revealed that Sampson lacked approval to conduct surgeries at the center, even though Russell signed paperwork designating him as the ‘Designated Physician’ with plastic and cosmetic privileges at Seduction.
During Russell’s ill-fated surgery, Sampson used a cannula to puncture her intestines, liver, bladder, and abdominal wall while violating the ‘minimum standard of care’ by injecting fat under her gluteal muscle and deep gluteal planes.
At 10:50 pm, severe bleeding in her abdominal cavity caused fatal injuries, leading to a pulmonary fat embolism. The family’s attorneys stated that she died after a fat deposit blocked her bloodstream, triggering the fatal cardiac arrest.
Despite Sampson’s removal from the cosmetic center’s official platforms, his personal Instagram still lists him as working at Seduction.
Attorney Stephan Cain expressed disbelief, stating, “It’s unbelievable that a surgery center could allow this to happen. This doctor should have never been performing this surgery, much less seven surgeries in one day.”
Russell’s devastated family held a funeral service where friends, relatives, and co-workers from her job at T-Mobile paid tribute. Colleagues spoke highly of her, describing her as a person one would wish to know. Her best friend, the last person Russell spoke to before her surgery, tearfully recounted their final exchange, emphasizing the wait for her friend’s call since June 16.
Russell’s loved ones remembered her as a devoted mother who consistently prioritized her children, embodying strength and ensuring everyone around her was taken care of, despite her personal challenges.
