‘Unlicensed Chinese tourist’ charged after alleged botched boob job at clinic
The woman being taken from the clinic by NSW Ambulance paramedics. Photo: Supplied/ABC News
A woman who allegedly administered anaesthetic to a Sydney beauty salon owner who suffered a cardiac arrest during a breast procedure was not a licensed medical practitioner in Australia, a court has heard.
The 35-year-old woman remains in a critical condition after suffering a medical episode at the Chippendale shop on Wednesday afternoon.
Chinese tourist Jie Shao, 33, has been charged with reckless bodily harm and using poison to endanger life, and appeared via a video link in Central Local Court on Thursday.
The prosecutor told the court Ms Shao, who was denied bail, has admitted in a recorded police interview that she administered anaesthetic despite not being a licensed medical practitioner in Australia
Fairfax Media reported that the client as Jean Huang, 35, the manager and co-owner of the newly-opened clinic.
Ms Huang was still unconscious and in a critical condition on Thursday, with grave fears for her prospects.
“If she does [survive], it’s anticipated she will have some degree of brain damage,” police said in a statement of facts tendered to the court on Thursday.
In another development, AAP reported that Ms Shao had also booked flights to return to China where she lives with her husband.
Magistrate Sharon Freund denied Ms Shao bail, saying she was a flight risk and a danger to the community.
Ms Shao’s solicitor Mary Underwood said her client is a graduate of a Canton medical university and a specialist in dermatology who has practised in both China and Great Britain.
She said Ms Shao arrived in Australia four or five days ago with two Chinese passports because her tourist visa – which expires in November – is attached to her old passport.
In seeking bail Ms Underwood had proposed Ms Shao continue to reside at a Sydney hotel, hand over her passports, not apply for travel documents or approach a point of departure.
Ms Shao would also not contact or approach employees of the Medi Beauty Laser and Contour Clinic and not engage in any beauty or medical treatments.
According to its website, the Medi Beauty Laser and Contour Clinic offers state-of-the-art beauty services based on the latest medical technologies.
“All treatment facilities, materials, resources and products meet the stringent requirements of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and Medicines Australia,” the website states.
The recently opened salon at the Central Park complex near Broadway was not open on Thursday.
“We can assure you that all of our treatments and equipment meet the highest industry standards and conform to all required legislation,” its website states.
Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) vice president Dr Gazi Hussain told The New Daily there was “no real regulation around injectable-type clinics”.
“These procedures could be performed by someone who potentially has no medical or nursing training,” Dr Hussain said.
“They might as well be beauticians who’ve completed a short weekend course.
“Before you let someone inject you, it is your right to ask them about their expertise, level of training and credentials, how many procedures of this kind they have performed, and be fully informed about the risks. Also, what are the anaesthetist’s credentials?
“There are real risks involved. They are invasive procedures. There is a risk of blindness, for example, associated with some of these fillers that are used near the eyes.
“You are entitled to ask what facilities are in place to perform emergency treatment if something goes wrong and it’s needed.
“There have been cases where patients have received toxic doses of anaesthetic and have been close to losing their lives.”
The Medi Beauty group was founded in Melbourne in 2012, where there are three clinics, and only recently opened in Sydney.
At least four staff members from the clinic were interviewed by police after the incident, Nine News reported.
– with AAP
