Bakersfield, California — A California plastic surgeon who surrendered her medical license after disciplinary action related to a patient’s death has been found dead in a backyard swimming pool, according to local authorities.
Sarwa Aldoori, 71, was discovered Tuesday evening at a home on Pineglen Drive in Bakersfield, where emergency responders were called to the scene. The Kern County Coroner later identified the woman, while investigators continue working to determine exactly what happened.
Officials have not announced whether foul play is suspected, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Police Say Investigation Into Doctor’s Death Is Ongoing
According to the Bakersfield Police Department, detectives are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding Aldoori’s death.
Authorities said the cause, manner and circumstances of her death have not yet been determined, pending the outcome of the investigation and any necessary medical examinations.
No additional details about the discovery or the events leading up to her death have been released.
As of now, investigators have not disclosed when the final autopsy findings or official cause of death may become available.
Doctor Practiced Medicine for More Than Three Decades
Aldoori spent approximately 35 years working as an OB-GYN before also practicing cosmetic medicine.
She was one of two physicians associated with Bella Health and Beauty, a plastic surgery and wellness practice in northeast Bakersfield.
Throughout her career, she provided women’s healthcare services while also performing cosmetic procedures, including body-contouring surgeries.
Her medical career, however, later became the subject of disciplinary action by California regulators.
License Surrender Followed Patient’s Death
Aldoori surrendered her California physician’s license in March 2024 after proceedings initiated by the California Medical Board.
According to board records, she had previously been placed on seven years of probation, but regulators later alleged that she failed to comply with the probation requirements, ultimately resulting in the surrender of her medical license.
The disciplinary action stemmed from allegations filed in 2021 concerning a cosmetic procedure performed several years earlier.
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Earlier Investigation Centered on 2016 Cosmetic Procedure
State records indicate the case involved a patient who underwent liposuction and a tummy tuck in April 2016.
According to the allegations, regulators concluded Aldoori did not have sufficient training to perform the procedure. The patient later died from a reported fat embolism, a medical condition in which fat droplets enter the bloodstream and can block blood vessels.
The disciplinary findings formed the basis of the Medical Board’s action against the physician, eventually leading to the loss of her license.
While Aldoori’s death has drawn renewed attention because of the earlier disciplinary case, authorities have not indicated that her death is connected to the previous investigation.
Police continue gathering information as they work to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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