Mom died after spa’s IV treatment, reports say. Doctor’s license temporarily suspended

Months after a mother of four died following her IV treatment at a Texas med spa, a doctor’s license has been temporarily suspended, according to local news reports.

The Texas Medical Board said a disciplinary panel temporarily suspended Dr. Michael Patrick Gallagher’s medical license Thursday, Oct. 12. The board determined “his continuation in the practice of medicine poses a continuing threat to public welfare.”

Though the Frisco anesthesiologist did not perform the treatment, he served as Luxe Med Spa’s medical director in Wortham, The Dallas Morning News reported. His credentials allowed the spa’s owner to order an IV therapy infusion that requires a prescription.

The owner administered the IV to the patient without a license and without supervision, KXAS reported.

Jenifer Cleveland was found unconscious soon after her treatment began on July 10, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Wortham police said the Fairfield woman died while being taken to a hospital, KCEN reported.

The Texas Medical Board said Gallagher “failed to properly supervise an unlicensed individual performing intravenous (IV) treatments, including administering prescription pharmaceutical solutions, resulting in complications that staff were not trained or prepared to manage, resulting in a patient’s death.”

Gallagher could not be reached for comment by McClatchy News. Luxe Med Spa did not immediately respond to McClatchy News on Oct. 18.

Gallagher’s medical license suspension went into effect immediately and will remain until the board takes further action, according to a news release. A hearing “will be held as soon as practicable with 10 days’ notice to Dr. Gallagher, unless the hearing is specifically waived by Dr. Gallagher.”

Cleveland, 47, is survived by her four children and her husband, Brian, The Freestone County Times reported. She was well known in her community through her work for KNES Texas 99.1 radio and as a waitress at the I-45 Coffee Shop.

While IV therapy at med spas and other establishments has grown in popularity, these types of treatments are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to Houston Methodist.

In a 2021 news release, the FDA said it is aware of such business models — including hydration clinics, medical spas, and mobile IV infusion services — and noted that “contaminated, or otherwise poor quality, compounded drug products can lead to serious patient illnesses, including death.”

Wortham is about 100 miles southeast of Fort Worth.

This story was originally published October 19, 2023 at 6:40 AM with the headline "Mom died after spa’s IV treatment, reports say. Doctor’s license temporarily suspended."