Fw: Cosmetic Surgeon Sues Patient

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----- Original Message -----

From: " Kathi " <pureheart@...>

Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2002 4:42 PM

Subject: Cosmetic Surgeon Sues Patient

> http://news.findlaw.com/ap/o/1110/9-24-2002/20020924100006_017.html

>

>

> Cosmetic Surgeon Sues Patient

>

> BOSTON (AP) - A cosmetic surgeon filed a defamation lawsuit against a

> patient who posted Internet photos of what she said was botched surgery

> and called him a " butcher. "

>

> Dr. Feldman, a former board member of the American Society of

> Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, told The Boston Globe his lawsuit against

> Lucille Iacovelli, 52, was necessary to defend " my reputation and the

> caring that I've given to my patients. "

>

> The last straw, he said, came in March when a woman walked into his

> Cambridge office with Iacovelli's photos and canceled surgery.

>

> In an interview published Tuesday in the Globe, Iacovelli said she was

> forced to go public because Feldman was trying to silence her and she

> couldn't get her concerns addressed medically. She said she wanted to

> sue him, but her lawyer told her he couldn't get an expert witness to

> back her.

>

> " Originally, I admit, I wanted to name and shame them, " she said of

> Feldman and two doctors who performed a face lift and nose job on her

> nearly five years ago. " Now I want to warn other people: This is a

> dangerous business. If something bad happens, you may never be able to

> get any answers. "

>

> Feldman won a court order in May requiring Iacovelli to remove any

> misleading photos or defamatory statements from the Internet. She's also

> been barred from contacting Feldman and the two other surgeons. That

> order came after she sent letters saying the doctors should " rot in

> hell " and offering to mail them her severed head after her death so they

> could dissect it and see what went wrong.

>

> She also told the doctors to " Enjoy your (smile) while you can. It may

> be permanently wiped off your face when you least expect it, " the Globe

> reported.

>

> Iacovelli, who works as a gardener at the Quashnet Valley Golf Club in

> Mashpee, said she never would have become violent.

>

> Iacovelli had the surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. Feldman

> looked on as one of the two other doctors performed the nose job. The

> face lift was performed by the other doctor.

>

> Iacovelli said was pleased at first, but grew dissatisfied. The pictures

> she posted on the Internet seemed to show her neck looking wrinkled a

> year after a face lift.

>

> Iacovelli eventually had surgery in Indiana that smoothed out her face

> and neck, but, she said, left her with painful neurological problems.

> The Massachusetts General doctors said they had decided to move on,

> viewing the case as a reminder for better patient screening. But Feldman

> sued in Suffolk County Superior Court when Iacovelli stepped up her

> campaign against him.

>

> 2002-09-24 16:15:55 GMT

>

> Copyright 2002 The Associated Press The information

> contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast,

> rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authorityof The

> Associated Press.

>

>

>