The inquest into the death of 38-year-old Hayley Dowell, who died after undergoing cosmetic surgery in Turkey, has been adjourned until a later date
The inquest into the death of a British woman following cosmetic surgery in Turkey, has been delayed due to a last-minute legal warning. Hayley Dowell, 38, suffered medical complications at a private clinic in Istanbul and died on October 3 2023.
Area coroner Nicholas Walker decided to postpone the inquest on Monday, November 24, after receiving an email from a Turkish solicitor warning about potential prejudice to ongoing criminal and civil cases related to Mrs Dowell’s death. She had reportedly travelled to Turkey for a Brazilian butt-lift (BBL), a tummy tuck, and liposuction with her husband.
Speaking to her grieving family at Winchester Crown 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 heard that an investigation is underway by the Turkish ministry of health, and that Neil Dowell, Mrs Dowell’s husband, has initiated civil proceedings against BHT Clinic in Istanbul.
Mr Walker also voiced his “concerns” about Britons seeking cosmetic surgery abroad, saying: “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.”
He added: “I am concerned that people have their eyes open when they commit to surgeries abroad.” Foreign Office data shows that at least six British people died in Turkey in 2023 alone after travelling abroad for medical procedures.
Mrs Dowell, a 38 year old resident of Eastleigh, Hampshire, travelled to Turkey last year for a surgical procedure on October 2, only to tragically pass away “around midnight” on October 3. A preliminary hearing into her death revealed that she had suffered an embolism.
She had reportedly undergone a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), tummy tuck, and liposuction at a private clinic, racking up costs of over £7,000.
In November of the previous year, Mrs Dowell’s mother, Ann, told Winchester Coroner’s Court that her daughter “would not have known the risks” associated with one of the procedures as she hadn’t given consent for all three.
Neil Dowell, her husband, stated that his wife had only agreed to two out of the three surgeries performed on her, though he did not specify which procedure she hadn’t consented to.
The inquest will be rescheduled once further details about the legal proceedings in Turkey are available.
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