Falošná lekárka čelí súdu za 54 prípadov ublíženia na zdraví po nesprávnych kozmetických procedúrach

Časová os

Priebeh udalostí v tomto prípade, od toho, čo sa stalo, až po konečné rozhodnutie súdu, v poradí, ako ho sám súd uviedol.

Sila dôkazov

Akú váhu mal každý dôkaz v odôvodnení súdu — dlhší, tmavší pruh znamená, že sa oň súd pri rozhodovaní viac opieral. Odráža to odôvodnenie súdu, nie nezávislé posúdenie prípadu.

Zúčastnené osoby

Osoby uvedené v rozsudku a úloha, ktorú každá z nich zohrala — napríklad obžalovaný, svedok alebo znalec.

Prečo súd rozhodol takto

Dôvody, ktoré súd sám uviedol pre svoje rozhodnutie, v poradí, v akom sú uvedené — nejde o rebríček podľa právneho významu, len o poradie uvedenia.

1. Defendant admitted guilt for quackery (Kurpfuscherei) and presenting herself as a medical doctor without holding any medical degree
2. Defendant admitted guilt for numerous bodily injuries caused to patients during illegal cosmetic procedures
3. Defendant admitted guilt for individual acts of fraud
4. Prosecution alleges use of injectable products not approved in Austria, supported by expert opinions
5. Defendant performed approximately 2,929 procedures over the period July 2021 to January 2023 without medical qualification
6. At least 88 victims suffered injuries ranging from light to severe, including permanent disfigurement, necrosis, and cases requiring reconstructive surgery
7. Financial damage alleged in the upper six-figure range, reportedly exceeding 300,000 euros
8. Defendant fled to Iran before the originally scheduled trial and was later arrested in Paris on a European Arrest Warrant and extradited to Austria

Často kladené otázky

• What is the defendant accused of in this case?

  The defendant is accused of operating a luxury beauty institute in Vienna while posing as a qualified medical doctor without holding a medical degree. Charges include unlicensed medical practice (Kurpfuscherei), presenting herself as a doctor, serious and minor bodily harm across dozens of victims, commercial fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent asset concealment, and allegedly using products unapproved for use in Austria.

• How many procedures is the defendant alleged to have performed?

  According to the prosecution, the defendant performed approximately 2,929 cosmetic procedures between July 2021 and January 2023.

• What types of procedures were allegedly carried out?

  The procedures reportedly included Botox injections, hyaluronic acid injections, and other cosmetic filler treatments.

• How many victims have been identified and how many are formally included in the indictment?

  At least 88 individuals have been identified as victims. Of these, 54 cases are formally included in the indictment: 15 involving minor bodily harm and 39 involving serious bodily harm.

• What injuries are alleged to have been suffered by victims?

  Alleged injuries include severe swelling, inflammation, abscesses, tissue destruction, lip numbness, drooping eyelids, permanently disfigured faces, necrosis, and cases requiring emergency and reconstructive surgery.

• What is the most serious individual victim case described in the reporting?

  One widely reported case involves a patient who sought a simple nose treatment and subsequently required multiple reconstructive surgeries. This is presented as illustrative of the alleged harm caused.

• Did the defendant have any medical qualifications?

  According to the prosecution, the defendant held no medical degree and allegedly never completed — or even began — medical studies. The defendant has partially admitted to practising without a licence and presenting herself as a doctor.

• What is Kurpfuscherei under Austrian law?

  Kurpfuscherei is an Austrian criminal law offence referring to unlicensed medical practice, commonly translated as quackery. It covers the practice of medicine or performance of medical procedures by a person who is not a licensed physician.

• Were the products used in the procedures legal?

  This is disputed. The prosecution alleges the products were not approved for use in Austria and cites expert opinions in support. The defendant denies this, claiming she used CE-certified products legally imported from South Korea.

• What is the alleged financial damage in this case?

  The alleged financial damage is reported to exceed 300,000 euros.

• How did the defendant end up being tried in Austria after leaving the country?

  The defendant travelled to Iran before the originally scheduled trial date, claiming she was unable to leave the country. She was subsequently photographed on a shopping trip in Paris. This led to a European Arrest Warrant being issued, her arrest in Paris, and her extradition to Austria.

• Has the defendant admitted any guilt?

  Yes. The defendant has partially admitted guilt, acknowledging unlicensed medical practice, presenting herself as a doctor, numerous counts of bodily harm, and individual acts of fraud. She denies that she used illegal or unapproved products.

• What is the maximum potential sentence the defendant could receive?

  The maximum potential sentence is 10 years' imprisonment.

• Has a verdict been reached in this case?

  No verdict has been reached. Further hearings are required to address the full scope of victim testimony, evidence, and financial charges.

• What financial charges are included beyond the medical misconduct?

  Financial charges include commercial fraud (gewerbsmäßiger Betrug), breach of fiduciary duty (Untreue), and fraudulent asset concealment or fraudulent insolvency (betrügerische Krida).

• What nationality is the defendant?

  The defendant is described as a 46-year-old German-Iranian woman.

• Where did the alleged offences take place and over what period?

  The alleged offences took place in Vienna, Austria, at a luxury beauty institute the defendant is accused of operating. The period covered by the indictment is July 2021 to January 2023.

• Why did prosecutors reject the defendant's claim that she used legally imported Korean products?

  According to the case summary, prosecutors rejected this claim on the basis of expert opinions submitted as part of the prosecution's evidence. The defendant disputes those expert conclusions.

• What does 'serious bodily harm' mean in the context of these charges under Austrian law?

  The case summary does not provide a detailed statutory definition, but in the context of this case, serious bodily harm (schwere Körperverletzung) encompasses injuries such as permanent disfigurement, necrosis, tissue destruction, nerve damage, and conditions requiring emergency or reconstructive surgery, as described in the allegations against the defendant.

• How does this case illustrate the risks of unregulated cosmetic procedures?

  This is an analytical observation rather than a court finding. The case, as described in the summary, illustrates how clients seeking aesthetic treatments at what appeared to be a legitimate luxury clinic allegedly suffered serious physical harm — including permanent disfigurement and the need for reconstructive surgery — because the practitioner allegedly lacked medical qualifications and may have used unapproved products. The scale (approximately 2,929 procedures, 88 identified victims) underlines the potential public health consequences of inadequate regulation or enforcement in the cosmetic aesthetics sector.

• What role did the European Arrest Warrant play in this case?

  After the defendant was photographed in Paris despite claiming she could not leave Iran, Austrian authorities issued a European Arrest Warrant. This EU legal instrument allowed French authorities to arrest the defendant in Paris and enabled her extradition back to Austria to face trial.

• Is there any indication of how long the trial is expected to continue?

  The case summary states that further hearings are required to address the full scope of victim testimony, evidence, and financial charges, but does not specify a projected timeline or conclusion date for the proceedings.