Second state action against Coral Gables cosmetic surgery center doctor after BBL death

The Florida Department of Health has filed an administrative complaint against Dr. John Sampson for the shortcomings an inspector found at Coral Gables’ Seduction Cosmetic Center after the death of a Brazilian butt lift patient under Sampson’s knife.

Seduction has always been owned by Gretel Jardon and Luis Jardon, but Sampson was Seduction’s designated physician when his patient died in June 2021. After repeating several office surgery center violations listed in a July complaint filed against Seduction, the November complaint filed against Sampson said “the designated physician is responsible for the office’s compliance with health and safety requirements” and can be disciplined if the office fails to do so.

According to Seduction’s website and its listing of staff with the Department of Health, Sampson is still on staff. The American Board of Plastic Surgery’s website says it suspended his certification earlier this year.

Emails from the Herald to Seduction and its attorneys haven’t been answered, just as neither past visit from a Herald reporter elicited comment.

READ MORE: A Miami area cosmetic surgery center lists a doctor with a revoked license as a surgeon

Seduction’s violations under Sampson as designated physician?

The complaint against Sampson says a June 18, 2021, inspection of Seduction, 4950 SW Eighth St., found several violations of state codes and statutes.

▪ “...a physician performing surgery was not registered with the Department to perform office-based surgery.”

That’s Sampson, if nobody else. In paperwork provided to the state, Seduction said Sampson wouldn’t be performing surgeries. He did so from April 2021 through June 2021, including seven surgeries on June 16, 2021, according to a previous complaint filed against Sampson. That complaint said the seventh patient, a woman identified as “E.R.,” died at the age of 33 after Sampson, punctured her liver, intestines and inserted fat into her gluteal muscles.

Sampson’s punishment by the state Board of Medicine included a $20,000 fine; a ban from doing fat grafting procedures and a ban from serving as an office surgery center’s designated physician.

▪ “...physicians listed on the registration were no longer employed at the facility.”

▪ “...post-operative follow-up for one or more patients was completed by an unlicensed staff member who signed as a nurse practitioner or physician.”

In Florida, this needs to be done by a licensed anesthesiologist assistant, physician assistant or registered nurse with post-anesthesia care experience.

▪ “...multiple surgical logs were missing required information, including, but not limited to, arrival time in the (operating room), level of surgery, type of anesthesia, time to recovery, duration of recovery, recovery staff, total supernatant fat removed, and/or adverse incidents.“

▪ “...Seduction was unable to provide verification of backup power safety check.”

This is required so the doctor can “safely terminate the procedure and to allow the patient to emerge from the anesthetic, all without compromising the sterility of the procedure or the environment of care.”