Three medical professionals convicted in death of cosmetic surgery patient

The Court of Torre Annunziata has issued first-instance convictions against three medical professionals involved in the 2022 death of 37-year-old Vanessa Cella. The woman died following a series of three consecutive cosmetic procedures—rhinoplasty, liposuction, and additive mammoplasty—at the Santa Maria la Bruna clinic in Torre del Greco.

The surgeon received a sentence of 2 years and 8 months, the anesthesiologist was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months, and the clinic’s medical director received 2 years and 1 month. The court found issues regarding the amount of anesthetic administered, the use of curare for immobilization, and a failure in post-operative monitoring.

In addition to the prison sentences, each defendant was ordered to pay a provisional sum of 15,000 euros to the victim’s brother, Patrizio Cella. The judge also granted a request from the public prosecutor to transmit the case files for further investigations into the overall management of the clinic.