The official inquest into the death of a British woman who died following cosmetic surgery in Turkey has been suddenly postponed after a legal warning from a Turkish lawyer.
Inquest Adjourned Amid Legal Concerns
Coroner Nicholas Walker adjourned the proceedings at Winchester Crown Court on Monday, November 24th. The decision came after he received an email from a lawyer in Turkey, which highlighted that a full inquest in the UK could potentially prejudice ongoing criminal and civil cases related to the tragedy.
Addressing Hayley Dowell's family in court, Mr Walker stated, "I’m mindful that you will unlikely want a criminal or civil investigation in Turkey to be prejudiced by anything I do here." The court was informed that the Turkish ministry of health is conducting its own investigation, and that Mrs Dowell's husband, Neil, has initiated civil proceedings against the BHT Clinic in Istanbul.
Coroner's Stark Warning on Surgery Abroad
The coroner used the hearing to voice significant concerns about the growing trend of people travelling abroad for cosmetic procedures.
"I’m concerned for those people in this country who are making decisions with respect to elected procedures that take place in another country and I’m also concerned to consider how informed they are as to those procedures," Mr Walker said. He emphasised his worry, adding, "I am concerned that people have their eyes open when they commit to surgeries abroad."
The Tragic Details of Hayley Dowell's Case
Hayley Dowell, 38, from Eastleigh, Hampshire, travelled to Turkey last year for an operation on October 2nd. She tragically passed away at "around midnight" on October 3rd. A preliminary hearing had previously been told that she suffered an embolism.
Mrs Dowell had undergone a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), a tummy tuck, and liposuction at a private clinic, with the total cost exceeding £7,000. In a disturbing revelation from a hearing last November, her mother, Ann, told the coroner that her daughter "would not have known the risks" of one of the operations because she had not consented to all three procedures.
This was corroborated by her husband, Neil Dowell, who stated that his wife had only consented to two of the three operations she ultimately received, though he did not specify which one was unauthorised.
A new date for the inquest will be scheduled once more information is gathered regarding the progress of the Turkish legal proceedings.
