Fayetteville Surgeon Faces Allegations

The North Carolina Medical Board in April issued a 27-page complaint against Dr. James Edward Lowe Jr., who operates A Beautiful Body in Fayetteville. A hearing in the case is scheduled for Oct. 17.

The complaint describes the cases of six unidentified patients who had carpal tunnel surgery done by Lowe between 2002 and 2006. In each case, the board found that Lowe "failed to perform the procedures with the amount of skill and care necessary."

Procedures were done too quickly, and Lowe misdiagnosed patients, according to the complaint. In one case, the board found that "none of the X-rays revealed any abnormalities." The complaint also describes "unprofessional conduct" on his part several times.

Lowe declined Friday to comment on the allegations and referred all questions to his attorney, Jonathan Charleston, who didn't return telephone calls.

Twelve years ago, New York authorities revoked his medical license on charges of fraud, failing to keep proper records, and being "guilty of moral unfitness in the practice of medicine."

Less than two years later, North Carolina granted him a license with a number of restrictions, including that he practice only plastic surgery, which is his specialty. In 2000, the medical board granted him a full license.

A spokesman for the medical board said the loss of a medical license usually isn't permanent. The board thoroughly reviews cases where physicians have lost licenses before issuing North Carolina license, the spokesman said.

Three women who said they used to work for Lowe told WRAL that they quit in the past month over concerns about his ongoing conduct.

One patient who was at Lowe's office Friday said she has never had any problems with him.

"He's helped me on several occasions with things that my regular doctor did not catch, and he's referred me to several other people and they have all been very good," Calvetta Dunkins said.