A trial will commence next Tuesday (June 4th) in Gran Canaria, for a woman accused of injecting liquid silicone into the lips and faces of 37 women even though she didn’t have a licence to do so. The defendant, Gloria Esperanza B. H., faces charges of practicing medicine without a license and causing severe injuries through gross negligence.
The trial, which will be held at the Sixth Section of the Provincial Court of Las Palmas, follows unsuccessful settlement negotiations in October. The accused is alleged to have posed as a retired doctor and performed unlicensed cosmetic procedures.
The prosecution claims that from 2016 to 2019, she conducted medical treatments at her home in Las Palmas, injecting liquid silicone subcutaneously into clients' lips. This substance is not approved for use as a filler by the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices. Clients believed they were receiving hyaluronic acid injections, as advertised by the fake doctor.
She charged 150 euros for initial sessions and an additional 50 euros for follow-ups, accumulating a total of 10,070 euros from the 37 victims, who she told that she was a retired doctor. These treatments caused significant damage, including granulomas, hypersensitivity, and in severe cases, the need for urgent surgical intervention as the lips can ‘burst’.
She now faces a potential sentence of 30 years and ten months in prison, and a demand to pay 185,000 euros in compensation to the victims. This compensation equates to 5,000 euros to each victim for physical and psychological damages, including the costs of necessary surgeries to correct the injuries.
Despite an offer of 200 euros per month for 18 years (totalling 43,200 euros) from the accused, the victims rejected this as insufficient. The Official College of Physicians of Las Palmas is also seeking a conviction for unlicensed medical practice against her.
The trial will take place over three sessions, presided over by Judge Emilio Moya Valdés. This case highlights the severe repercussions of unauthorised medical practices and the importance of ensuring that medical professionals are properly licensed and regulated.
