Margaret Spada, from Lentini, Sicily, had traveled to an unlicensed clinic in Rome on November 4 for a minor cosmetic “touch-up” after seeing an advertisement for the facility on the social media platform.
Shortly after receiving a local anesthetic, Margaret fell unconscious before the rhinoplasty could begin. Despite numerous attempts to revive her, her condition worsened, and she was urgently transferred to the hospital, where she slipped into a coma.
According to La Repubblica, Margaret passed away three days later at Sant’Eugenio Hospital in Rome.
“This was supposed to be a routine operation,” said the family’s attorney, Alessandro Vinci. “The idea that a 22-year-old returns home in a coffin is simply unbearable for her family.”
In a tragic turn of events, Margaret’s boyfriend, who was in the waiting area, was brought into the operating room when her condition deteriorated. Shocked by the scene, he recorded a short video of the incident, which is now part of a manslaughter investigation, as reported by La Sicilia.
The news of Margaret’s death has left the Lentini community devastated.
“At this moment, the family—her parents and sister—are surrounded by the love and support of many people but remain in a silence filled with unimaginable grief,” said Vinci. “They want answers about the circumstances and cause of their daughter’s death.”
A post-mortem examination is set for Friday, November 15. Meanwhile, the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched a manslaughter investigation, as reported by NeedToKnow.
Authorities have seized medical records to verify whether the clinic was properly authorized to conduct complex procedures like rhinoplasty. Investigators are also examining whether Margaret underwent a thorough health evaluation before the anesthesia was administered.
According to Italy’s Rai News, two individuals from the clinic, suspected to be father-and-son doctors, are under investigation for manslaughter. It remains unclear why Margaret’s boyfriend was invited into the operating room during the procedure.
