ATLANTA, Ga. (InvestigateTV) – A growing number of former patients of Dr. Harvey ‘Chip’ Cole have come forward, alleging negligence in the treatments they received. Currently, at least nine individuals are involved in lawsuits against the physician, with claims centered on complications following surgical procedures.
One patient, Kayla Cannon, detailed her experience in a one-star Yelp review from 2023, stating that she sought surgery for a birth defect that affected her eyelids. She alleges that, in addition to eyelid surgery, Dr. Cole recommended cheek implants to address her “flat” cheeks. While the initial procedures at Northside Hospital’s Peachtree Dunwoody Outpatient Surgery Center seemed successful, Cannon reported that weeks later, her eyelid drooped to a worse position than before.
Cannon pursued follow-up care but claims her situation deteriorated further, citing opinions from other doctors that indicated too much tissue was removed and some areas were overtightened. Additionally, she asserts that Dr. Cole neglected to address an infection related to one of her cheek implants. She now feels “permanently deformed” and is disillusioned with the impact on her life.
Another patient, Sara Dunham, shared her journey, stating, “Let’s be really honest; I’m disfigured.” In 2022, she sought Dr. Cole’s help to feel more refreshed but instead underwent a series of surgeries that resulted in profound complications, including dry mouth, facial paralysis, and an inability to close her eyes. Her lawsuit alleges that these issues stemmed from the doctor damaging her facial nerve and removing excessive tissue.
Dunham expressed a desire for Dr. Cole to be held accountable, emphasizing that her experience should serve as a warning for others. She said, “I don’t want him to continue to do it to other people.”
Reports indicate that at least seven additional lawsuits have been lodged against Dr. Cole, suggesting a troubling pattern where patients sought improvement but ended up with worse conditions due to alleged inadequacies in the surgeries performed.
Alex Seay, the attorney representing the patients, commented on these cases, noting that patients are often upsold on unnecessary procedures that are subsequently poorly executed.
In response, Dr. Cole’s legal representation has stated that the physician is known for handling medically challenging cases and that he intends to contest the allegations. His attorney has raised concerns regarding the solicitation methods employed by a singular attorney representing multiple patients, suggesting a coordinated approach to litigation.
Financially, Dr. Cole has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a formal declaration of his financial difficulties, and is in the process of liquidating assets. While he has claimed to be quadruple board-certified, records indicate that he is not certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, considered a benchmark in the field. However, he is certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, among others.
The Georgia Composite Medical Board has not confirmed any investigations into Dr. Cole, although patients have filed complaints and provided statements to board investigators. Northside Hospital is also facing scrutiny as a defendant in the ongoing lawsuits, accused of negligence in allowing Dr. Cole to perform surgeries. While the hospital denies wrongdoing, it states that Dr. Cole no longer has privileges there.
Statement from Dr. Cole’s Attorney
“Dr. Cole is a fellowship-trained oculofacial plastic surgeon with a 35-year career. He is being sued by one attorney and nine former patients with no known connections between the majority of the patients, or the attorney. It is Dr. Cole’s strong opinion that an aggressive attorney has received help in soliciting his patients to take their shot at the ‘lawsuit lottery.’ There is much more to this story than is being reported.”
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