Jenifer’s Law headed to Gov. Abbott’s desk, will increase regulations for medical spas in wake of Central Texas woman’s death

AUSTIN, Texas (KWTX) - A bill headed to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk would increase regulations for medical spas in the wake of a Central Texas woman’s death.

Jenifer’s Law, a bill sponsored by State Rep. Angelia Orr, R-District 13, was inspired by Jenifer Cleveland, a Fairfield, Texas woman who died shortly after receiving an IV infusion at the Lux Med Spa in Wortham, Texas on July 10, 2023.

The bill, which passed with strong support in the Texas House and Senate, mandates that physicians may only delegate the administration of “elective intravenous fluids” to an assistant, registered nurse, or an advanced practice registered nurse “acting under adequate physician supervision.”

Cleveland, 47, worked at the radio station KNES Texas 99.1. According to The Texas Medical Board, she was administered an IV infusion containing a vitamin B complex, including ascorbic acid, cyanocobalamin and TPN electrolytes, a solution that “requires a prescription and is known to cause complications due to the potassium chloride in it.”

Cleveland was found unconscious at the spa, the police department confirmed to KWTX. An EMS crew from Mexia, Texas responded to the spa and performed CPR on Cleveland up until their arrival at a nearby hospital. “She never regained consciousness and passed away,” police said.

In the final autopsy report, Cleveland’s cause of death was described as “sudden cardiac death of uncertain etiology.” Her manner of death was listed as “unknown.”

David E. Moore, the attorney representing Luxe Med Spa Owner Amber Johnson, previously told KWTX that Cleveland signed consent forms prior to the treatment and indicated she was not on any medications, did not have any chronic medical conditions, and was not currently under the care of a physician.

Court documents state Johnson was the individual who administered the IV therapy to Cleveland.

Michael Patrick Gallagher, the “acting medical director” for Luxe Med Spa at the time, was not present at the spa when Johnson administered the IV fluid treatment to Cleveland, court documents state.

An order temporarily suspending Gallagher’s medical license in late 2023 alleged Gallagher was “more than 100 miles away from Luxe, failed to properly supervise Amber Johnson, an unlicensed individual performing intravenous IV treatments, including administering prescription pharmaceutical solutions, resulting in complications that the Luxe staff were not trained or prepared to manage, resulting in patient’s death.”