A 31-year-old mother of two tragically lost her life after a botched medical procedure performed by an unlicensed doctor in Queens, New York. María Paz Peñaloza had sought to have her buttock implants removed at an illegal liposuction clinic operating out of a residential home in Ditmars Steinway. The procedure, which took place in March, left her brain-dead, and she was taken off life support on April 11.
The unlicensed practitioner, Felipe Hoyos-Foronda, attempted to escape the country following the incident but was apprehended at JFK Airport. According to a complaint filed in Queens Criminal Court, Hoyos-Foronda administered lidocaine, a local anesthetic, to Peñaloza via a syringe, which led to her suffering a cardiac arrest.
Peñaloza’s sister, Linney Peñaloza Cabrera, expressed her shock and grief over the incident. She revealed that María had chosen to go to the illegal clinic based on a friend’s recommendation. The friend had previously undergone a procedure at the same location. Cabrera also shared that medical professionals had tried to revive her sister for over two hours after she was rushed to the hospital.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office is investigating the case, and prosecutors believe that Peñaloza’s death was caused by lidocaine toxicity. While lidocaine is generally safe, it can become toxic if administered incorrectly or in large doses over widespread areas.
Following the incident, a friend of the victim visited Hoyos-Foronda’s illegal clinic to collect Peñaloza’s belongings. The landlord informed the friend about the tragic event, leading her to contact the police. Law enforcement was able to track Hoyos-Foronda’s vehicle to the Van Wyck Expressway, where Port Authority police apprehended him at the airport as he was preparing to board a flight to Colombia.
Hoyos-Foronda was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree assault, a felony, and unauthorized practice of a profession. The Queens District Attorney’s Office stated that they are re-examining the charges in light of the new developments in the case, which remains an active and ongoing investigation.