Taiwanese model dies after 19-day coma induced by anesthesia
A Taiwanese model passed away after a medical mishap at a cosmetic clinic that led her to fall into a coma for two weeks.
According to local media outlets carried by Mothership and KBIZoom, 40-year-old Cai Yuxin enlisted the services of Fairy Clinic in Daan, Taipei to treat her insomnia. While she initially received positive results during the early part of the treatment, her condition began to worsen when she was injected with a fast-acting sedative called propofol.
Known as the "milk of amnesia," the drug appears as a white liquid and is infused directly into a vein to rapidly induce unconsciousness.
The clinic's doctor, identified as Wu Shao Hu, allegedly left Yuxin and only assigned a male assistant to watch over her. Things quickly went south as the model "began convulsing, her eyes rolled back, and she soon slipped into a coma," according to reports.
The clinic, which was licensed for operation in 2022, attempted to resuscitate Yuxin, but when their efforts failed, she was rushed to the hospital where she was subsequently declared brain dead.
After 19 days had passed, Yuxin still showed no signs of improvement in her condition. Her family then decided to remove her life support and let her pass peacefully.
The clinic owner, doctors, and nurses involved are now under investigation for potential violations under Taiwan’s Criminal and Medical Laws, including "negligent homicide and causing serious bodily harm."
Authorities are also looking into whether the propofol was administered improperly, resulting in Yuxin slipping into a coma.
According to Science Direct, propofol may cause a rare but potentially fatal condition called propofol infusion syndrome, which can occur in patients receiving prolonged infusions of propofol, particularly at high doses.
This can lead to serious problems such as high potassium in the blood, high fat or cholesterol in the blood, rhabdomyolysis, enlarged liver, kidney failure, heart failure, and more.
Symptoms of a serious heart or lung problem due to propofol include bluish lips or skin, blurred vision, choking, dizziness, drowsiness, sweating, trouble breathing or speaking, among others.
Per Taiwan News, only anesthesiologists and critical care doctors are allowed to use propofol in the country. The drug must be administered in an operating room or intensive care unit with proper monitoring, and the patients must be given oxygen and have a clear airway.
