MANILA, Philippines – Charges of homicide resulting from reckless imprudence will be filed against three doctors and the staff of a cosmetic surgery clinic in Quezon City following the death of a patient who was undergoing liposuction on Monday.

Members of the Quezon City Police District Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIDU) have taken custody of cosmetic surgeon Dr. Peregrino Lorenzo VII, assistant surgeon Dr. Joel Unson, anesthesiologist Dr. Nylene Arizala-Tan, nurse aide Joey Budomo and nurses Fionna Francisco and Djoanah Melissa Cave in connection with the death of Mary Jane Arciaga, 30.

Arciaga, a resident of Muntinlupa City who worked in Dubai, had just come home for a vacation.

The doctors and nurses are staffers of Borough Medical Care Institute, at the 6th floor of Cyber One Mall building, Eastwood City, Barangay Bagumbayan, Libis in Quezon City.

QCPD-CIDU head Supt. Franklin Moises Mabanag told the Inquirer that based on initial findings, the victim died of cardiac arrest. Investigators, however, are still waiting for the results of a histopathological exam conducted on the victim.

“This is to determine the direct cause of the cardiac arrest, whether it was induced by anesthesia or other drugs injected into the victim before or during the liposuction,” he explained.

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery procedure in which a suction apparatus is used to remove fat from the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, the neck or the arms.

According to an investigation by the QCPD-CIDU, Arciaga, accompanied by two friends, went to the clinic at around 9 a.m. Monday to undergo liposuction. Laboratory tests were conducted on her before she was wheeled into the operating room two hours later.

At around 4 p.m., Lorenzo informed Arciaga’s friends that her blood pressure was falling and her heart was getting weaker.

Adelaida Tensuan, Arciaga’s friend, told the Inquirer she found this odd since Arciaga did not have any heart ailment and the staff had done tests on her before the procedure.

When she requested for Arciaga’s transfer to a hospital, Tensuan said she was told it was too risky to transfer the patient at that time.

“Dr. Lorenzo came out several times from the operating room and kept asking us what was wrong. We told him that since he is the doctor, he should know what was going on, “ Tensuan added.

The clinic, meanwhile, said in a statement that it was conducting its own investigation of the incident.