Italian health authorities seized 14 plastic surgery clinics across the country on Thursday following the death of a woman who underwent liposuction at an unlicensed facility in Rome earlier this week.
The operation, led by the Carabinieri’s NAS (health and hygiene division), was carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Health. It targeted unauthorized aesthetic medicine centers operating without legal approval in various regions.
Authorities conducted 1,160 inspections, resulting in the seizure of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals valued at €3.5 million. The investigation uncovered 32 criminal offenses, including illegal medical practice, operating unauthorized clinics, mishandling expired medications, prescribing drugs intended solely for hospital use, and forging professional certifications.
In addition to the criminal charges, officials issued 156 administrative penalties for regulatory violations related to regional laws governing beautician services. These included failures in obtaining proper authorization and procedural compliance. Fines totaling €130,000 were imposed.
The investigation follows the fatal liposuction procedure that has placed an anesthetist under formal investigation. The case has raised concerns about oversight and enforcement in the country’s cosmetic surgery sector.
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