Two Women Sue Doctor Who Did Plastic Surgery

Two Orange County women filed separate lawsuits Tuesday against a Santa Ana doctor whose license has been suspended, claiming the plastic surgery he performed on them at his office caused serious medical problems that are requiring treatment from other doctors.

The women claimed that Dr. James Dean, who had been operating with a partner under the name Institute of Plastic Surgery Medical Group, misled them into believing that he was a qualified plastic surgeon, when in fact he is only a general practitioner with some plastic surgery training.

In court papers, Dean claimed he is not required to be a certified plastic surgeon to perform “cosmetic” surgery at his office. Dean claimed that “cosmetic” surgery is a specialty different from plastic surgery.

Negligence Claimed

The suits, filed by Joyce Palso of Santa Ana and Jacqueline Sliter of Costa Mesa, seek general and punitive damages in amounts to be determined at trial. Sliter claims she needs more surgery because of Dean’s negligence when he performed breast surgery for her last summer. Palso claims she was left with a heart condition after Dean failed to give her adequate follow-up treatment following stomach and thigh surgery he performed on her.

At least two other women patients of Dean filed suit against him earlier this year, alleging that he performed inadequate surgery and failed to inform them that he was not a certified plastic surgeon.

Dean and his attorneys have refused to comment on any of the lawsuits.

Dean is scheduled to appear before Orange County Superior Court Judge Judith Ryan on Friday for a hearing on whether he should be permanently suspended from practicing medicine. Dean’s license was temporarily suspended by Superior Court Commissioner Ronald L. Bauer last month at the request of the state attorney general’s office.

Dean also faces a hearing before the state medical board, which has filed a claim against him. The complaint cites the Palso and Sliter cases.