Rebecca De Paula, a 31-year-old former New York Police Department officer, died Sunday in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, following complications from a breast implant removal surgery. According to reports, her death was attributed to a bacterial infection that developed after the procedure.

De Paula’s mother expressed deep sorrow and frustration, accusing the clinic’s medical staff of failing to inform her promptly about her daughter’s condition when she arrived at the facility. Family members have called for a thorough malpractice investigation into the circumstances surrounding De Paula’s death.

De Paula had traveled to the Dominican Republic specifically for the operation. While details about the surgical procedure and the infection are still emerging, local media reports indicate that the infection became severe enough to cause her death within a week of her arrival in the country.

The family’s demand for accountability highlights concerns about medical practices and patient safety at clinics offering cosmetic surgeries in foreign countries, a sector that has seen increasing international attention. Authorities in the Dominican Republic have not yet made a formal statement regarding the incident.