A fatality inquiry is underway into the death of a Calgary woman who died after complications following a cosmetic surgery procedure.
Ashish Toews was 33 years old, a mother of two little girls, when she had a tummy tuck with liposuction after the birth of her second daughter.
She died days later at the Foothills Hospital in July 2008 with her husband Jason Toews by her side.
At the time, her family was told she suffered a fat embolism that caused several strokes and irreversible brain damage.
The inquiry was very difficult for Jason as he recalled the events after his wife came home from surgery.
During his testimony, he became very emotional and court had to be adjourned.
Later in the inquiry, he said his understanding was that his wife was to undergo a tummy tuck and not liposuction.
He later learned that she had had liposuction when she was taken to emergency in medical distress and was informed by the doctor at the hospital.
The doctor suggested to Jason that his wife may have had a blood embolism.
Three nurses also testified at the inquiry about what happened on the day of her surgery.
Carol Gwozd went over the surgical consent forms and was asked if she discussed the liposuction procedure with Toews. She said no.
"At the time, when you had a tummy tuck, liposuction was implied," she said.
Lorna Wagner, the other nurse in the operating room that day, says she had no memory of the case or Toews, but insists there was nothing out of the ordinary.
"You tend to remember when things go wrong," she said.
The inquiry is to find recommendations, not to decide guilt or blame.
Jason made one major recommendation -- that anyone with complications following surgery should not be released and sent home.
He also launched a civil suit this past May.
