A California gynecologist whose patient died on the operating table during a marathon liposuction procedure has been temporarily barred from performing cosmetic surgery pending a full state medical board hearing on the matter.

Ehab Aly Mohamed, MD, a Los Angeles-area licensed gynecologist who also performs plastic surgery, is currently being sued for the wrongful death of Sharon Carpenter Nicholson, 61, during a liposuction procedure that lasted all day and into the night. He's also been accused of falsely posing as a Harvard professor, AP reports.

Late last month, "due to the imminent danger he posed to the public," the Medical Board of California announced a partial suspension order that bars Dr. Mohamed from performing any cosmetic surgical procedure that pierces the skin, performing any procedure that involves the use of lidocaine and prescribing or administering any narcotic analgesic except for existing patients on post-op follow-up.

The board determined, based on a motion filed by Executive Director Linda K. Whitney on Dec. 21 and an administrative hearing held on Dec. 23, that "the likelihood of injury to the public in not issuing the order outweighs the likelihood of injury to [Dr. Mohamed] in issuing the order." A full hearing on the matter is scheduled for Jan. 10.

Irene Tsikitas

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