A Paris court has banned two surgeons from practicing medicine following the death of Belgian-Israeli billionaire diamond dealer, Ehud Arye Laniado, who died during a penis enlargement procedure at a private aesthetic clinic in the French capital.
Laniado, 65, a prominent figure in the global diamond trade and owner of Omega Diamonds, reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack while undergoing the cosmetic procedure at the Saint-Honoré-Ponthieu aesthetic clinic. The intervention involved injections intended to enlarge the appearance of his penis.
According to court findings, the procedure was carried out after normal working hours by a surgeon identified as “Guy H,” who was well known for treating high-profile and wealthy clients. Laniado was said to have visited the clinic several times a year, spending tens of thousands of euros on various treatments.
Following Laniado’s death, French authorities opened an investigation initially centered on potential manslaughter. However, the case later shifted focus to allegations including failure to assist a person in danger, drug-related offences, and practicing medicine without a valid license.
On Wednesday, a Paris court handed down its verdict, suspending Guy H’s medical license and sentencing him to 15 months in prison. Another surgeon who reportedly stood in for him on the night of the procedure received a 12-month suspended sentence. Both individuals have been permanently barred from practicing medicine.
In addition, the court ordered them to pay financial penalties of €50,000 and €20,000 respectively, according to French newspaper Le Parisien.
A source close to the investigation disclosed that medical examiners quickly ruled out the penile injection as the direct cause of death. However, questions were raised over the handling of the emergency. Investigators reportedly found that an initial call for help was made around 8 p.m., but emergency services were not contacted until nearly two hours later.
The defence argued that the delay stemmed from confusion over Laniado’s symptoms. The surgeons reportedly believed his discomfort was linked to a known ulcer rather than a cardiac issue. One source noted that emergency services would not typically be called for what initially appeared to be a minor complaint.
Despite attempts at cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Laniado could not be revived.
Commenting on the case, the surgeon’s lawyer, Martin Reynaud, said the heart attack could have occurred anywhere and questioned whether blame was being unfairly placed on the medical team. “This cardiac incident could have happened anywhere,” he said. “Would a pizza maker be prosecuted if it happened in a restaurant?”
Meanwhile, an unnamed Paris-based medical practitioner told reporters that the incident, while shocking, did not come as a surprise within elite cosmetic surgery circles. According to the source, some high-end clinics are known to bend professional rules in order to cater to wealthy clients.
The case has since reignited debate in France over regulation, ethics, and accountability within the cosmetic surgery industry.
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