An NYPD officer died after complications from breast implant removal surgery in the Dominican Republic, prompting her family to demand a malpractice investigation. Rebecca De Paula, 31, a mother of three and an 18-month veteran of the force, contracted a bacterial infection following the cosmetic procedure at a clinic in Santo Domingo. She died early Sunday.
De Paula had been honored as officer of the month in March at her Bronx precinct for her police work and dedication. The Police Benevolent Association confirmed her death, stating, "Our hearts are heavy with the loss of our sister P.O. Rebecca De Paula, who passed away while off duty after only 18 months on the job."
Her mother told local outlet Noticias Sin that she rushed to the clinic after learning of her daughter's serious condition but arrived to find she had already passed away. De Paula's remains are being held at the National Institute of Forensic Sciences and are expected to be transferred to the U.S. for burial.
The family is requesting that local authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding her death, specifically examining whether medical malpractice or negligence occurred during the procedure. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons notes that risks associated with breast implant removal surgery can include infection, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary complications.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 93 cosmetic surgery-related deaths of U.S. citizens in the Dominican Republic were reported between 2009 and 2022. This case follows the death of NYPD Det. Alicia Stone in October 2025, who died a week after undergoing a butt lift and liposuction procedure in Colombia.