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A 24-year-old Portuguese woman died following a cosmetic procedure in Istanbul, prompting a criminal investigation that has found the operating physician at fault, according to forensic medical reports.
Aida Alexander Oliviera, who lived in Switzerland, traveled to Istanbul in 2024 for liposuction and buttock fat injection surgery after contacting a doctor through a social media advertisement. The procedure was performed at a clinic in Sisli district. Oliviera was rushed to a hospital following complications but could not be saved.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the suspicious death. A forensic medical examination by the Institute of Forensic Medicine determined the doctor was at fault, according to Turkish broadcaster NTV. The report identified Oliviera's cause of death as internal bleeding due to vessel rupture following the cosmetic operation, along with pulmonary embolism caused by blood clots blocking lung vessels.
Oliviera's father, Friatas Riberio, said his family is seeking justice. "They killed our only daughter Aida. There is evidence and documents confirming this," he stated. "We want justice for our daughter. Someone is guilty and must pay the price."
Following Oliviera's death on March 7, 2024, her body was sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for autopsy. Her cousin traveled to Istanbul for identification procedures, but the family's attorneys allege irregularities occurred during the statement-taking process.
According to the allegations, the doctor interfered with the investigation by arranging for a non-certified translator to assist Oliviera's cousin instead of a sworn translator. Attorney Enes Osman Taser said the doctor "sent his own employee to the police station, not a sworn translator, and had a statement recorded saying 'I am not filing a complaint.' When we conveyed this to the Portuguese family, they were shocked."
Despite the forensic findings, formal legal proceedings have yet to begin nearly two years after Oliviera's death. Attorney Fatih Bulut noted the prolonged timeline: "Two years have passed since the death, and the trial has not yet started. They have not had the opportunity to express themselves in court. She was their only child, so they are grief-stricken."
The delay stems partly from administrative requirements. Taser explained that because the suspect is a physician, authorization must be obtained from the Ministry of Health, a process that took approximately one year. "Just yesterday, an investigator was assigned," he added.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about medical tourism safety in Türkiye, which has become a popular destination for cosmetic procedures due to lower costs compared to Western Europe. The country's cosmetic surgery industry has grown significantly in recent years, attracting patients from across Europe and the Middle East.
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