Former California Doctor Found Dead in Pool Following Patient's Fatal Surgery

Sarwa Aldoori, a 71-year-old former obstetrician and gynecologist from Bakersfield, California, was found dead in a swimming pool at a private residence. Authorities discovered her body on Tuesday evening and are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, with the official cause yet to be determined. Aldoori had lost her medical license approximately two years prior after a disciplinary case related to a cosmetic surgery gone wrong.

Aldoori had practiced medicine for about 35 years and later worked at Bella Health and Beauty, a clinic specializing in aesthetic medicine and plastic surgery in northeast Bakersfield. The California Medical Board had initially placed her on a seven-year probation but later accused her of failing to meet supervision requirements. She ultimately surrendered her license following allegations connected to a liposuction and tummy tuck procedure performed in April 2016, which resulted in the patient's death.

The patient reportedly died from a fat embolism, a life-threatening condition where fat enters the bloodstream causing collapse. The disciplinary charges against Aldoori were filed in 2021, several years after the patient's death. Currently, there is no official link between Aldoori's professional history and her death in the pool. Investigators are awaiting forensic results to determine whether her death was due to drowning, a medical event, or other causes.

The case remains under active investigation by Bakersfield police and the Kern County Medical Examiner's Office.