Hong Kong drops charges against elderly surgeon in fatal Botox case
Hong Kong prosecutors have withdrawn 21 charges against 93-year-old plastic surgeon Franklin Li, who was under investigation after a patient died during a Botox injection. This decision is significant as the surgeon will no longer face criminal prosecution due to his health condition.
Source Scmp
A court previously ruled that Li was unfit to participate in the trial on manslaughter charges because his progressive dementia impaired his ability to understand the accusations or give testimony. All criminal cases against him have been dismissed, but the deceased patient’s family may still pursue civil claims against the surgeon and his clinic for damages.
This case highlights the importance of assessing defendants’ mental fitness in legal proceedings and opens the door for further civil litigation.
