A Medspa owner in Texas has been charged with murder after she allegedly killed a client by administering an \u201cIV cocktail\u201d too quickly.<\/p>\n
Jenifer Cleveland died just hours after she visited Amber Johnson’s Luxe Medspa in Wortham, Texas, on July 10, 2023. While at the medspa, Cleveland, 47, allegedly received an IV infusion that included multiple vitamins and electrolytes in an unsafe manner, according to the indictments viewed by People<\/a>.<\/p>\n Johnson turned herself in and she was booked at the Freestone County Jail on April 28, according to jail records.<\/p>\n She has been charged with felony murder, criminally negligent homicide, manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence, practicing medicine without a license and nine counts of delivery of a dangerous drug.<\/p>\n Ex-Restaurant Owner Accused of Poisoning Drinks is Charged With 2 Murders and Attempted Murders<\/a><\/p>\n After she turned herself in, Johnson posted a $69,000 bond and was released on April 28.<\/p>\n Cleveland overdosed on potassium chloride after Johnson allegedly administered 1,000 mL of an \u201cIV cocktail” that included total parenteral nutrition (TPN) electrolytes.<\/p>\n TPN electrolytes are typically administered through intravenous feeding and provide patients with necessary nutrients. It\u2019s required that the electrolytes have a slow infusion rate of 83 to 125 mL per hour over a 24-hour period in order to avoid any adverse effects, according to Ameri Pharma<\/a>.<\/p>\n If TPN electrolytes are not properly administered and monitored, an unsafe amount of potassium may enter the body and the patient could potentially suffer cardiac arrhythmia, kidney dysfunction, muscle weakness or spasms, metabolic disturbances or death.<\/p>\n Johnson\u2019s former attorney, David E. Moore, said Cleveland\u2019s infusion began around 11:04 a.m. on July 10, 2023, and she lost consciousness 27 minutes later. She then collapsed and had no pulse, according to KWTX<\/a>. Cleveland was then transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead after suffering a cardiac arrest.<\/p>\n The Texas Medical Board launched a months-long investigation into Cleveland’s death and determined she suffered a cardiac arrest “due to the improper administration” of the IV therapy, according to Texas Medical Board’s August 2024 order to suspend Dr. Michael Gallagher\u2019s license. Gallagher was Johnson’s suspected medical supervisor at the time of the incident.<\/p>\n Noting that Johnson lacked medical licensure, the indictment stated that she still ran a medspa in the spring of 2023 despite Texas state laws that prohibit non-physicians from being the majority owner of medical practices, according to People.<\/p>\n Gallagher was also arrested on April 29 and he was booked into the Freestone County Jail, per KWTX<\/a>. He has been charged with a single count of murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, as well as multiple counts alleging the delivery of a dangerous drug.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not currently clear if Gallagher has entered a plea or retained legal counsel.<\/p>\n