Background:
This is a real case in which lawyer Sandra Márquez represented the victim as a private prosecutor. Some details, including photos, have been modified to protect the privacy of those involved.
Lucia, a Valencia resident, saw an advertisement on social media for lip filler injections and decided to visit a beauty clinic in the city center. She was treated by the owner, Mary, a woman of Korean nationality, who assured her that the product she was about to inject was the best on the market. Trusting that she was in the hands of a professional, Lucia agreed to the procedure.
However, after the injection and once back home, she experienced severe adverse reactions, including extreme swelling of her lips, which led to a hospital admission for a day. When she reached out to Mary for an explanation, Lucia discovered that Mary was not a licensed medical professional and was not legally allowed to perform the procedure. Worse still, the hyaluronic acid used had not been approved in Spain, as it had not passed European Union safety regulations.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Lucia hired Sandra Marquez as her lawyer, and we filed a complaint against Mary for practicing medicine without a license, causing bodily harm due to gross negligence, and endangering public health.
Legal Strategy:
As Lucia’s lawyer, we presented key evidence, including:
- Screenshots of the beauty clinic’s social media ads promoting hyaluronic acid injections.
- WhatsApp conversations between Lucia and Mary, including messages arranging the appointment and those exchanged after Lucia suffered complications.
- Proof of the bank transfer showing Lucia’s payment for the procedure.
- Medical and hospital records documenting Lucia’s injuries.
- Testimony from Lucia’s boyfriend, who had accompanied her to the clinic on the day of the injection.
Mary’s defense was based on claiming that she and Lucia were friends and that the injection was given in a personal, non-professional context.
Outcome:
We secured a conviction on all charges, resulting in a 14-month prison sentence for Mary, along with a one-year ban from working in any beauty or aesthetics-related profession.
