Doctor Accused In Woman's Liposuction Death

Dr. Louis May Villanueva Arrested In Connection To Death Of Lourdes Trinidad In May 2010

Posted: 07/02/2011
Last Updated: 691 days ago

A Tijuana doctor who lives in Bonita was arrested in connection with a South Bay woman's death during a liposuction procedure.

Dr. Louis May Villanueva was arrested on Friday at his Millennium Cosmetic and Laser Institute in Tijuana.

10News spoke with May at his Bonita home after family members of Lourdes Trinidad altered 10News to her death in May 2010.

"I was not at fault or my anesthesiologist or my clinic," said May in an earlier interview.

Shortly after May's arrest on Friday, Trinidad's family expressed relief.

"It was overwhelming," said Sergio Salazar, Trinidad's brother. "I was real happy about the whole situation"

Trinidad had been a client of May's for six years and believed May had a license to practice plastic surgery.

"I am an active member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American Academy of Liposuction Surgery," he told 10News shortly after Trinidad's death.

Soon after, 10News learned that was not true. Investigators also said May has no right practicing plastic surgery in Mexico either and determined that medical negligence on his part contributed to Trinidad's death.

"It was a simple procedure," said Salazar. "In my opinion, he let her die."

May claims Trinidad died of a heart attack, not his procedures. However, nurses told Trinidad's family that May did not have the proper equipment to revive Trinidad.

Trinidad's family said they want May stripped of his title and barred from practicing any kind of medicine from now on.

When Mexican authorities arrested May, they were acting on a warrant that was recently issued by a state judge in Tijuana.

May is currently being held in Tijuana at La Mesa State Penitentiary.

Copyright Do you have more information about this story? Click here to contact usCopyright 2011 by 10News.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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