Jailed Surgeon's Medical License Renewed Despite Guilty Plea in Patient Death Case
A California plastic surgeon currently serving time behind bars for the death of a mother during a botched breast augmentation procedure has had his medical license renewed by Arizona authorities. Carlos Chacon, who pleaded guilty in July 2024 to involuntary manslaughter in the 2019 death of Megan Espinoza, agreed to forfeit his medical license for life as part of his plea agreement.
However, Arizona Medical Board records reveal that in September 2024, while Chacon was incarcerated, his Arizona-issued medical license was renewed with restrictions. The license remains active and is scheduled to expire in March 2027, pending a formal hearing that has not yet been scheduled.
Family Demands Answers Over License Renewal
Espinoza's family has expressed shock and disbelief at the license renewal, demanding explanations from medical authorities. 'Shock and disbelief in a country like America something like this could happen,' her brother, David Gorcey, told NBC San Diego. The family's attorney, Christian Jagusch, who is also a physician, condemned the decision as a 'gross miscarriage of justice.'
'It is a danger to the consumers that these medical boards are supposed to protect,' Jagusch emphasized to the outlet. He noted that even with restrictions, if Chacon were released from prison, he would still be authorized to prescribe medications and order medical equipment under the renewed license.
Arizona Medical Board's Explanation
The Arizona Medical Board responded to inquiries by stating that Arizona law does not mandate automatic license revocation based solely on convictions or disciplinary actions from other states. 'Arizona law does not provide for the automatic revocation of a physician’s license based solely on a conviction, disciplinary action, surrender, or revocation in another state,' a spokesperson explained to the Daily Mail.
The Board added that it is required to conduct independent reviews and investigations to determine appropriate outcomes according to Arizona statutes and regulatory standards. 'This process is designed to ensure due process while also protecting the public,' the spokesperson stated.
Details of the Fatal Procedure
The tragic incident occurred in December 2018 when 36-year-old Megan Espinoza, a mother of two, underwent breast augmentation surgery at the Divino Surgery Center in Bonita, San Diego. During the procedure, she suffered cardiac arrest around 2:30 PM. According to District Attorney Gina Darvas, Chacon failed to call emergency services for over three hours and prevented his employees from doing so.
Court documents allege that Chacon left the operating room to attend to four other patients while Espinoza lay dying. The arrest affidavit states that 'Chacon made the conscious decision to stop others from providing emergency lifesaving efforts on at least seven occasions.' He also instructed employees to mislead Espinoza's husband about her condition.
Anesthesia Administered by Untrained Personnel
Prosecutors accused Chacon of cutting corners to increase profits by having an untrained nurse administer anesthesia. The surgical technician, Carla Hernandez, who admitted injecting Espinoza with anesthetics, had attended college for two years as a business major but held no medical certifications. Hernandez reported noticing something was wrong when Espinoza's color changed and monitors began beeping after the first implant was placed.
Although Chacon contacted two doctors for advice, he withheld critical information about the situation. One doctor advised calling 911 at 5:03 PM, but Chacon delayed until 5:24 PM—nearly three hours after the cardiac arrest. He then provided false information to the 911 operator to create plausible deniability.
Aftermath and Legal Consequences
Espinoza spent a month in critical condition at a hospital before doctors informed her family she would not regain neurological function. She passed away on January 28, 2019. Chacon's guilty plea in July 2024 included an agreement to forfeit his medical license permanently, yet the Arizona renewal has raised serious questions about regulatory oversight and public safety.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about medical board procedures and accountability, particularly when licensed professionals face criminal convictions related to patient care. As the Espinoza family seeks justice, the medical community and regulators face scrutiny over how such renewals can occur despite grave misconduct.
