Marble Falls doc helps make ‘Jenifer’s Law’ on IV procedures a reality
Jenifer Cleveland (left), 47, of Fairfield, Texas, died after receiving a poorly administered IV treatment at a medical spa in Wortham in 2023. Her death sparked a successful fight by Marble Falls ophthalmologist Dr. Mary Kelly Green (right) and the nonprofit TX400 for tighter regulations on IV treatments across the state and the 2025 passing of Jenifer’s Law. Photo from Facebook profile of Jenifer Cleveland
A new Texas law requiring all IV treatments be administered by a licensed professional goes into effect Sept. 1, two years after Marble Falls ophthalmologist Dr. Mary Kelly Green and her nonprofit TX400 began pushing for stricter rules following the death of a woman at a medical spa.
The 2025 legislation, dubbed “Jenifer’s Law,” is named for Jenifer Cleveland, a 47-year-old mother of four from Fairfield who died at Luxe Med Spa in Wortham after receiving an improper Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) infusion from the spa’s unlicensed operator.
Jenifer’s Law requires that IV treatments be given by a licensed professional, such as a physician’s assistant or registered nurse, with proper supervision by a medical doctor.
“For Jenifer’s Law, we had known for a long time that it was probably going to take the death of a human to get the attention of society, of people, of legislators, of the media,” Dr. Green told DailyTrib.com. “We knew that this story, despite being tragic, would propel action so that this would never happen again.”
Dr. Green was referring to the greater issue of poorly regulated IV treatments at medical spas across Texas.
“What you’re seeing in society are these pop-up IV places where you can get an IV anywhere, from anyone,” she explained.
Cleveland received a TPN IV treatment from Luxe Med Spa owner/operator Amber Johnson, who was not licensed, certified, or officially trained to do the procedure. She was operating under the medical license of Dr. Michael Patrick Gallagher, who was reportedly over 100 miles away at the time of the treatment.
A TPN IV infusion is a mix of vitamin B complex, including ascorbic acid, cyanocobalamin, and electrolytes. The treatment is often used to provide nutrients to hospital patients by bypassing the digestive system, but it is also popular in the health-beauty-wellness industry.
“The fact that (Johnson) ordered (the IV) herself and gave it to Jenifer Cleveland is beyond absurd,” Green said. “TPN is something that we give to hospitalized patients. It has to be calculated very carefully.”
Cleveland essentially received a lethal injection from the poorly measured TPN dosage she was given at Luxe and suffered cardiac arrest, later dying at the hospital.
Her death galvanized Dr. Green, her colleagues at TX400, and several lawmakers, including the bill’s authors: state representatives Angelia Orr, Tom Oliverson, Suleman Lalani, Donna Howard, and Gary Vandeaver. The legislation also had the support of Cleveland’s family.
“It takes such a huge effort from so many people to get a bill passed,” Green said. “I think about Jenifer’s family, her children, her husband. Without their help, it probably would not have happened.”