ORLANDO, Fla. — The Florida Board of Medicine has revoked the medical license of a Florida doctor after a patient died following a "Brazilian butt lift" procedure, according to NBC affiliate WESH 2 News.
Dr. Christopher Walker, who practiced at Beja Body Med Spa in Orlando, had his license suspended in 2021 after the woman's death. A complaint filed against him states that during the procedure, Walker performed liposuction on a 38-year-old woman but repeatedly punctured her abdominal muscles, organs, and arteries. The patient suffered severe "internal bleeding" and died that night from her injuries, the complaint states.
In 2022, Walker pleaded guilty to felony charges for accepting kickbacks and bribes in exchange for patient referrals.
At a hearing last week, Walker addressed the Florida Board of Medicine. Andrew Pietrylo, chief legal counsel for the state health department, noted that Walker was not board-certified in cosmetic surgery, although certification is not required in Florida.
"[The] respondent began performing cosmetic surgery procedures at MedSurg despite not being board certified in plastic surgery, having privileges to perform cosmetic surgery at a hospital, or having a comparable background, skill, and training to perform cosmetic surgery," Pietrylo said.
Walker admitted to his mistakes at the hearing, expressing deep remorse for the family's loss and asking for a lesser penalty.
"I accept full responsibility for my mistake and the grave error I made. I understand that my mistake, though unintended, has caused immense pain and suffering, and I'm filled with profound sorrow for the family affected by this loss," Walker said.
The board upheld the recommendation of a state administrative law judge to revoke Walker's medical license.
