CHANGE COULD BE COMING
AFTER A FAMILY TRAGEDY SHARED
BY CBS4'S BRIAN MAASS, BRAIN
DAMAGE AFTER COSMETIC SURGERY.
THE FACILITY SHE USED WAS
UNREGULATED AND THERE ARE MANY
MORE LIKE IT.
SINCE BRYANT'S REPORT, LARRY
CROWDER INTRODUCED A BILL
CALLING FOR STATE OVERSIGHT.
AS BRIAN FOUND OUT, FAMILIES
SAY IT IS PAST TIME.
NEVER DID SHE COMPLAIN ABOUT
ANYTHING.
Reporter: THAT'S HOW GARY
CORNELIUS REMEMBERS HIS MOTHER
VIRGINIA.
HE IS REELING OVER HER
UNEXPECTED DEATH CLAIMING THIS
ROCKY MOUNTAIN CANCER CENTER
WAS UNPREPARED WHEN SOMETHING
WENT WRONG DURING ONE OF HIS
MOM'S RADIATION TREATMENTS IN
2018.
RADIATION THERAPISTS, LOOKS
UP AND DOWN THE HALL
FRANTICALLY.
SHE IS YELLING HELP ME.
HELP ME.
TAKES OFF RUNNING DOWN THE
HALL.
Reporter: SINCE THE CENTER
WAS NEXT TO A HOSPITAL THE
FAMILY ASSUMED IT UNDERWENT
STATE INSPECTIONS.
DID YOU THINK THAT WAS
REGULATED BY THE STATE OR SOME
KIND OF HEALTH AUTHORITY?
ABSOLUTELY.
I DID.
Reporter: IT WAS NOT.
VIRGINIA CORNELIUS DIED OF WHAT
THE CORONER WOULD RULE AS HEART
FAILURE.
HER SON BELIEVES HER DEATH
COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF
THE FACILITY HAD BEEN
CONFORMING TO STATE REGULATIONS
AND HELD TO HIGHER STANDARDS.
HE IS NOT ALONE.
NOT WAITING FOR YOU.
Reporter: EVELYN SUFFERED
PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE DURING
BREAST AUGMENTATION SURGERY AT
THIS PLASTIC SURGERY OFFICE.
HER FAMILY FILED SUIT CLAIMING
THE OFFICE FUMBLED THEIR
RESPONSE WHEN SHE SUFFERED
CARDIAC ARREST WHILE UNDER
ANESTHESIA WAITING HOURS TO
CALL 911.
SHE IS NOT CONSCIOUS.
Reporter: THAT FACILITY WAS
NOT LICENSED OR INSPECTED
EITHER.
DAVID WOODRUFF WHEREVER IT
REPRESENTS THE FAMILY.
IT'S A DANGEROUS LOOPHOLE
THAT SURGERIES CAN BE DONE IN
AN OFFICE BASED SETTING LIKE
THIS.
Reporter: THE STATE HEALTH
DEPARTMENT REGULATES OTHER
FACILITIES LIKE HOSPITALS AND
NURSING HOMES, CONDUCTING
INSPECTIONS, INVESTIGATE AND
PROBLEMS AND PENALIZING
FACILITIES THAT FALL SHORT.
MEDICAL OFFICES ARE EXEMPT.
RANDY KIRKENDALL WITH THE STATE
HEALTH DEPARTMENT --
WOULD YOU GO TO ONE OF THESE
PLACES?
I WOULD CONSIDER TREATMENT
IN NONREGULATED FACILITIES BUT
I WOULD ABSOLUTELY DO
EVERYTHING I COULD TO FIND OUT
WHAT THE HISTORY OF THAT
PRACTITIONER IS.
EXAM ROOM.
Reporter: SOME PLASTIC
SURGEONS SAY A LACK OF
REGULATION KEEPS PRICES DOWN.
MAKES THOSE OPERATIONS
CHEAPER AND MORE CONVENIENT FOR
THE PATIENTS.
BAD OUTCOMES HAPPEN.
BUT DOES THAT MEAN THAT HAVING
THE STATE COME IN AND REGULATE
FIXES THAT PROBLEM?
GENERALLY WOULD THINK NO.
Reporter: SOME DISAGREE.
