FRISCO, Texas — A North Texas doctor's license has been suspended temporarily after a woman died of possible complications from an IV infusion.
Jenifer Cleveland died July 10 following treatments at Luxe Med Spa in Wortham, according to court documents from the Texas Medical Board.
According to the court records, the doctor has been identified as Dr. Michael Gallagher, an anesthesiologist from Frisco. Gallagher is the listed medical director at Luxe Med Spa in Wortham, 106 miles from his practice in Collin County.
It's been three months since Cleveland died. For that long, it was a mystery to her friends.
"You want to pinch yourself. This can't be happening. This is not real. She can't be gone," said Buzz Russell who works at radio station KNES 99.1 in Fairfield where Cleveland worked in sales. Cleveland is described as a fun, energetic person who loved life.
"It does bring a bit of closure because now we know some details," said Russell referring to the details found in court documents that reveal the med spa was being run without physician supervision.
In those documents the Texas Medical Board concluded "the staff at the med spa were performing treatments that required medical licensure."
The board said Gallagher was not on-site during Jenifer's treatment. The board identified Amber Johnson, owner of Luxe, as the person who administered the IV therapy. Gallagher was onsite the day of the grand-opening in May, on June 10, and again on July 10, after Cleveland fell unresponsive.
The board concluded Cleveland was inadequately cared for by an "unlicensed and unqualified delegate without adequate supervision" to give potent prescribed drugs like TPN electrolytes.
"TPN electrolyte solution requires a prescription and is known to cause complications due to the potassium chloride in it," read the court documents.
"You took a bright light. You took a shining light," said Russell.
Gallagher listed Texas Partners Healthcare Group as his place of practice. An administrator with the group told WFAA on Tuesday that's not true. The administrator said Gallagher is not employed there but did provide anesthesia services on a contract basis for years.
Cleveland's family is still waiting on autopsy results.
The medical board said they suspended Gallagher because his actions are a "...continuing threat to the public health, safety, and welfare of Texas citizens."
Gallagher's medical license was first issued in 2008. The North Texas doctor can appeal the board's decision.