Surgeons Banned After Billionaire Dies During Penis Enlargement Procedure in Paris

Two surgeons have been banned from medical practice after a billionaire died during a penis enlargement procedure at a private clinic in Paris.

The deceased, Ehud Arye Laniado, was a Belgian-Israeli diamond dealer and billionaire who collapsed and died in 2019 while undergoing treatment at the Saint-Honoré-Ponthieu clinic.

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Details of the Medical Treatment

Court findings revealed that Laniado had been receiving regular cosmetic injections from a surgeon identified as Guy H, reportedly two to four times a year.

The procedures involved injections designed to make the penis appear larger and were often performed outside normal office hours, raising concerns about medical oversight and safety standards.

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Criminal Investigation and Charges

Following Laniado’s death, French authorities launched an investigation that initially focused on possible manslaughter.

However, prosecutors later expanded the charges to include:

• Failure to assist a person in danger

• Drug-related offences

• Practising medicine without a valid licence

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Court Verdict and Sentences

Last Wednesday, a French court sentenced Guy H to:

• 15 months in prison

• Suspension of his medical licence

• A €50,000 fine (£43,323)

A second surgeon, who had been operating in Guy H’s place, received:

• A 12-month suspended prison sentence

• A €20,000 fine (£17,329)

The rulings were reported by Le Parisien.

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Cause of Death Still Raises Questions

Investigators ruled out the penis injection itself as the direct cause of death.

However, scrutiny focused on the delay in seeking emergency medical help after Laniado collapsed.

According to sources, the surgeon allegedly made an initial call for assistance at 8pm, but only contacted the fire department two hours later.

Laniado was known to have an ulcer, which may have complicated the diagnosis at the time.

“It’s easy to say in hindsight that the heart attack started there,” a source told Le Parisien, “but since the patient had an ulcer, it was impossible to immediately suspect a heart problem.”

Broader Concerns Over Cosmetic Procedures

The case has reignited debate in France over unregulated cosmetic procedures, private clinic oversight, and patient safety—especially in high-risk, non-essential treatments performed outside standard medical hours.