Plastic Surgeon Pleads Guilty To Manslaughter In Patient's Death

CHULA VISTA, CA — A South Bay plastic surgeon charged in the death of a patient during a breast augmentation operation at his clinic pleaded guilty Monday to voluntary manslaughter and as part of his plea, agreed to a three-year prison term and a lifetime suspension of his California medical license.

Carlos Chacon, 49, was originally charged in late 2021 with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the Dec. 19, 2018, operation that led to the death of Megan Espinoza, a 36-year-old mother of two and local kindergarten teacher.

Prosecutors, who alleged Chacon delayed contacting emergency services for about three hours after Espinoza went into cardiac arrest, filed a murder charge last year against Chacon and he was set to go to trial next week on that count.

Chacon remains out of custody following his plea to voluntary manslaughter and three counts of aiding and abetting a person in practicing medicine without a license.

Nurse Heather Lang Vass previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Both Chacon and Vass are set to be sentenced Sept. 20.

Prosecutors said Espinoza was provided anesthesia by a nurse who was not trained to do so. The patient went into cardiac arrest during the operation at Divino Plastic Surgery in Bonita and prosecutors said Chacon ordered his staff not to call 911 when Espinoza's condition declined and instructed staff to lie to Espinoza's husband regarding her condition.

Deputy District Attorney Gina Darvas argued in court last year that Chacon telephoned several anesthesiologists about Espinoza's condition. One doctor told Chacon to immediately call 911, while others said they would have advised he do so, but Chacon lied about the severity of Espinoza's condition, according to prosecutors.

Espinoza died more than a month after undergoing the operation

Her family filed a wrongful death and medical malpractice lawsuit against Chacon and the surgery center, which settled out of court.

One of Chacon's defense attorneys, Marc Carlos, said in a statement after Monday's change of plea hearing, "Nothing can replace the life of Megan Espinoza. By entering into a plea, Dr. Chacon has accepted his role in the outcome. He wants Ms. Espinoza's family to have closure as well as his own."

Espinoza's mother, Judith Gorcey, was among the victim's family members who attended Monday's hearing.

Gorcey told reporters after the hearing, "I'm glad that Mr. Chacon cannot hurt anyone else. I'm glad he's surrendered his license. He gave our daughter a death sentence. He gave us life sentences."

— City News Service