Prominent Pastic Surgeon Charged With Manslaughter After 18-year-old Died Of botched Surgery

Following the death of an 18-year-old patient 14 months after a botched procedure, prominent Colorado plastic surgeon is facing manslaughter charges.

After a warrant for his arrest was issued, Dr. Geoffrey Kim, 52, surrendered to Arapahoe County Sheriff’s officers on Wednesday, Feb. 16.

Prosecutors have yet to file a criminal complaint, but the surgeon is expected to face multiple charges, including felony negligent homicide, reckless manslaughter, and misdemeanor obstruction of service, according to Vikki Migoya, a spokeswoman for the 18th Judicial District’s Office of the District Attorney.

Kim was released after posting a $5,000 bond shortly after his arrest.

Kim was slated to perform a breast augmentation surgery on Emmalyn Nguyen, 18, on Aug. 1, 2019, when the teen slipped into cardiac arrest after being placed under anesthesia by nurse anesthetist Rex Meeker, according to investigators.

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Kim admitted to investigators that he did not call 911 for at least five hours. Nguyen was declared brain dead and unable to speak or walk as a result of his injuries. After 14 months, she passed away.

“The investigation has taken more than two years to complete and involved dozens of interviews and search warrants,” said Travis Stewart, Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office Captain of Investigations, in a statement. “Our hope is that this will be the beginning of bringing justice and a sense of closure to Emmalyn’s family.”

Rex Meeker is also charged with felony reckless manslaughter and is due to surrender on Friday, Feb. 18, according to Ginger Delgado, a spokesperson for the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office. A warrant for his arrest has also been issued.

It’s unusual for a medical doctor to face criminal charges over patient care, according to Lou Shapiro, a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles, but the claimed facts in Kim’s case are “disturbing.”