A patient has filed a lawsuit against a Houston-based plastic surgeon, alleging severe medical negligence during a cosmetic surgery procedure. Shelly Johnson Rice filed the complaint in Harris County District Court on July 29, 2024, accusing Dr. Sam M. Surkar of failing to provide adequate care, resulting in serious complications and permanent disfigurement.
According to the lawsuit, Rice underwent breast augmentation and abdominal "tummy tuck" surgery performed by Dr. Surkar on July 25, 2022. Shortly after the procedures, she developed blisters and pustules on her skin indicative of infections. Despite ongoing follow-up care until August 1, 2022, Dr. Surkar allegedly failed to conduct thorough evaluations or prescribe appropriate antimicrobial therapy, leading to dangerous infections that required antibiotic treatment and left Rice permanently disfigured.
The plaintiff's expert report by Dr. Uriel Sandovsky highlights multiple breaches in the standard of care provided by Dr. Surkar. The report notes that given Rice's history of obesity and smoking—factors increasing her risk for surgical site infections—a more thorough evaluation should have been conducted after initial conservative treatments failed. The expert criticizes Dr. Surkar for not performing necessary bloodwork or imaging and failing to prescribe effective antimicrobial therapy to cover methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). "It is my opinion with a reasonable degree of medical certainty that while Dr. Sukkar initially provided antibiotics to treat Ms. Rice, he failed to provide appropriate follow-up and medical care," states Dr. Sandovsky.
Rice alleges that Dr. Surkar was negligent in several respects: failing to obtain informed consent, not fully considering her personal and medical history before surgery, performing elective procedures despite high risks, and not adhering to acceptable standards of patient care post-surgery. She claims these failures directly caused her severe injuries and damages.
The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $1 million for physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, medical expenses incurred due to the alleged negligence, and anticipated future costs related to her condition.
Representing Shelly Johnson Rice are attorneys Scott A. Sanes from the Law Offices of Scott A. Sanes in Pearland and Robert T. Rice from Rice & Rice LLP in Angleton. The case is presided over by Judge Gerardo Perez in the 234th Judicial District Court under Case ID 2024-47877.