Prior to the comprehensive cosmetic surgery, doctors in Miami injected patients three times the appropriate maximum dose of anesthetics and twice the 24-hour maximum, the state complaint said.
Dr. Leanne Marks’ patient died three days after surgery.
The Florida Department of Health administrative complaints filed on March 25th will begin what the first disciplinary action against Maercks will be in the 16 years approved in Florida. He has been accredited by the American Board of Plant Surgery since November 2018.
Maercks did not return or reply to emails from the Miami Herald for comment.
Maercks Institute plastic surgery issues
According to the complaint, a patient called “JT” appeared on January 18, 2023 at Maercks Institute, 3050 Biscayne Blvd. about these plastic surgery surgeries. Brufaroplasty (eyelid surgery); abdominal plasty (tummy tuck); rhinoplasty (nosejob); breast milk lift; genioplasty (working with the chin); liposuction; body contours with fat grafts.
From May 24, 2022, the Maercks Institute has held OSR 1681 under the name Maercks under the inauguration license number 1681. Previous licenses under “The Maercks Institute” will be displayed as “Closed.”
During the surgery, Maercks injected 400 mg of Marcaine and 532 mg of Exparel, each injected the branded version of the local anesthetic bupivacaine. This is 932 mg of bupivacaine injected into JT
“The maximum dose of bupivacaine as an injection is between 225 mg and 266 mg,” the complaint states. “The maximum amount of bupivacaine to be administered to a patient in a 24-hour period is 400 mg.”
The surgery lasted between 12:44pm and 8:21pm, and two hours later, while in the post-anaesthesia care room, “JT was upset and removed the IV.”
“JT has significantly reduced blood oxygen saturation,” the complaint said. “At 11:59pm, Miami Fire and Rescue was summoned to the facility. At 12:15am (Maercks) and staff began CPR with JT’s weak pulse and further blood oxygen desaturation.
While JT’s breathing returned, doctors at the Rider Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital discovered that she was “irreversibly suffering” brain damage due to being too long without oxygen.
JT passed away on January 21, 2023.
