Alleged illegal surgery is basis for woman’s arrest

By Marshall Allen

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Metro Police arrested a woman on multiple counts of practicing medicine without a license, harming a patient and possessing dangerous drugs without a prescription in connection with a botched surgery that allegedly took place in the back of a drug store.

Patricia Padilla, 50, was arrested Friday and is now free on bail, police spokeswoman Barbara Morgan said.

Authorities were first called June 19 to Botanica Maya, 5347 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas, because a woman was bleeding profusely — apparently from gynecological surgery that had gone wrong — in the retail store, which sells over-the-counter medications, vitamins and herbs. The woman was rushed to a hospital, and then police and health authorities investigated the site. They found a crude surgical suite set up in the back room, including a cabinet with intravenous and injectable medications, many with Spanish labels, and a log with the names of patients and procedures.

In the trash were found bloody rags, used syringes and needles, pill bottles and bottles of injectable drugs with Spanish labels.

The state Health Department shut down the surgery operations with a cease-and-desist order on June 26.

The store is owned by Patricia Padilla’s stepson, Adam Padilla. When reached by the Sun June 26, he said his stepmother operated the store and that the procedure done June 19 was performed by a man known only as “Gustavo,” and he fled to another country after the police were called.

Adam Padilla did not return calls on Monday.

Patricia Padilla was arrested on two counts of practicing medicine without a license, one count of willful wanton disregard with substantial bodily harm or death, one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of possession of a dangerous drug without prescription.

On the Internet, the location is listed as the address of “Patricia Padilla, M.D.,” but she is not a physician and is not licensed to practice medicine.

The case was investigated by Metro Police’s Violent Crimes unit.