Billionaire Dies During Penis Enlargement Surgery

A Belgian-Israeli billionaire, Ehud Arye Laniado, died in March 2019 during a penis enlargement surgery at a clinic in Paris. The 75-year-old experienced a heart attack while undergoing penile injections. Prosecutors initially investigated manslaughter but later charged the surgeon and his assistant with failure to assist a person in danger, among other offenses. The surgeon, Guy H., was given a 15-month suspended sentence and a €50,000 fine. His assistant surgeon, who was unregistered in France despite over 20 years of practice, received a 12-month suspended sentence and a €20,000 fine.

Further investigations uncovered that Laniado, a bodybuilding enthusiast, had been taking banned substances and erectile dysfunction chemicals. These substances, found in his hotel room, were considered the likely cause of his death from cardiac hypertrophy. Emergency services were called twice on the night of his death, but the initial call was allegedly made at Laniado's insistence despite abdominal pain. Laniado's family received no compensation following the proceedings.