NBC News investigates patient deaths following cosmetic surgery

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PATIENTS DIE FOLLOWING COSMETIC. PATIENTS DIE FOFOLLOWING COSMETIC SURGERY, AND HOW. FOLLOWING COCOSMETIC SURGERY, AND HOW DOCTORS ARE HELD. SURGERY, AND HOW DOCTORS ARE HELD ACCOUNTATABLE. DOCTORS ARARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. HERE'S ERIN. ACCOUNTABLE. HERE'S ERIN McMcLAUGHLIN. HERE'S ERIN McLAUGHLIN. >> Reporter: WHEN. >> Reporter: WHEN THIS WOMAN DIDN'T T HEAR FROM HER MOM FOR. THIS WOMAN DIDN'T HEAR FROM HER MOM FOR DAYS, , SHE KEPT. HEAR FROM HER MOM FORR DAYS, SHE KEPT CALLING UNTIL FINALLY. DAYS, SHE KEPT CALLING UNTIL FIFINALLY A POLICE OFFICER. A POLICE OFFICER PICKED UP. >> I SAID, WHO ARE. PICKED UP. >> I SAID, WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU. >> I SAID, WHO ARE YOU AND WHWHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY MOM'S. YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY MOM'S PHPHONE? DOING WIWITH MY MOM'S PHONE? AND HE STATED, WELL, PHONE? ANAND HE STATED, WELL, THIS IS GLENDALE. THIS IS GLENDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I'M HERE WITH YOUR. POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I'M HERERE WITH YOUR MOM'S BODY. MOM'S BODY. >> Reporter: THE OFFICER TOLD HER IT. >> Reporter: THE OFFICER TOLD HER IT APPEPEARED SMITH HAD A. OFFICER TOLD HER IT APPEARED SMITH HAD A SURGERY. APPEARED SMITH HAD A A SURGERY. >> OUR BODIES KNOW. SURGERY. >> OUR BODIES KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR US.

WHAT IS BEST FOR US. >> Reporter: AFTER SEEING HER. >> Reporter: AFTER SEEING HER ADVERTISEMENTS. SEEING HER ADVERTISEMENENTS ONLINE, SHE HAD GONE. ADVERTISEMENTS ONLINENE, SHE HAD GONE TO A BOARD CERTIFIED. ONLINE, SHE HAD GONE TO A BOARD CERTIFIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON FOR. TO A BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON FOR LIPOSUCTION AND A. PLASTIC SURGEON FOR LIPOSUCTION AND A BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFIFT. LIPOSUCTION AND A BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT. DAYS LATER, SMITH WAS. BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT. DAYS LATER, SMITH WAS DEAD. DAYS LATER, SMSMITH WAS DEAD. >> HER AND MY GRANNY. DEAD. >> HER AND MY GRANNY IS ALL I HAD. IS ALL I HAD. >> Reporter: BALLARD LATER LEARNED IN THE. >> Reporter: BALLARD LATER LEARNED ININ THE FOUR MONTH BEFORE HER. FOUR MONTH BEFORE HER MOTHER'S DEATH, TWO OTHER WOMEN DIED. MOTHER'S DEATH, TWO OTHER WOMEN DIED FOLLOWING COSMETIC. OTHER WOMEN DIED FOLLOWING COSMETIC PROCEDURES P PERFORMED. FOLLOWING COSMETIC PROCEDURES PERFORMED BY THE SAME DOCTOR. PROCEDEDURES PERFORMED BY THE SAME DOCTOR. AND WHAT IS EVEN MORE. AND WHAT IS EVEN MORE OUTRAGEOUS TO BALLARD, THAT DOCTOR. OUTRAGEOUS TO BALLARD, THAT DOCTOR STILL IS PRACTICING. BALLARD, THAT DOCTOR STILL IS PRACTICING MEDICINE TODAY.

STILL IS PRACTICING MEDICINE TODAY.. I JUST SPOKE TO STAFF. MEDICINE TODAY. I JUST SPOKE TO STAFF AT T THIS CLINIC AND. I JUST SPOKE TO STAFF AT THIS CLINIC A AND THEY TOLD ME THE. AT THIS CLININIC AND THEY TOLD ME THE DOCTOR IS STILL. DOCTOR IS STILL PRACTICING MEDICINE AND PERFORMING. PRACTICING MEDICINE AND PERFORMING PROCEDURES AT AT. AND PERFORMING PROCEDURES AT T AT LEAST THIS LOCATION. PRPROCEDURES AT AT LEAST THIS LOCATION. IT APPEARS SHE'S NO. LEAST THIS LOCATATION. IT APPEARS SHE'S NO LONGER WORKING AT THE. LONGER WORKING AT THE CLINICS WHERE THTHE DEATHS OCCURRED AND. CLINICS WHERE THE DEATHSHS OCCURRED AND IT'S UNCLEAR WHETHER. NG. IT'S UNCLEAR WHETHER SHE'S PERFORMING SURGERIES. SHE'S PERFORMING SURGERIES. SHE NEVER REPLIED TO. SHE NEVER REPLIED TO OUR MULTIPLE ININTERVIEW REQUESTS. OUR MULTIPLE INTERVIEW REQUESTS. WE TRIED RINGING. INTERVIEW REQUESTS. WE TRIED RINGING MULTIPLE TIMIMES. WE TRIED RINGING MULTIPLE T TIMES. NO ONE IS ANSWERING. MULTIPLE TIMES. NO ONE IS ANANSWERING. AN AUTOPSY REPORT. AN AUTOPSY REPORT LISTED BALLARD'S CAUSE OF D DEATH AS. LISTED BALLARD'S CAUSE OFOF DEATH AS RENAL FAILURE OF. CAUSE OF DEATH AS RENAL FAFAILURE OF UNKNOWN CAUSE, ADDING. UNKNOWN CAUSE, ADDING AN INJURY DIRECTLY FROM THE S SURGERY. AN INJURY DIRECTLY FROM THE SURGERY CANNOT BE IDENENTIFIED.

FROM THE SURGERY CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED. BUT BABALLARD IS NOW. CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED. BUT T BALLARD IS NOW SUING THE DOCTOR, BUT BALLARD IS NOWOW SUING THE DOCTOR, ALLEGING SHE FAILS TO. ALLEGING SHE FAILS TO PROPERLY PRESCREEN HER MOTHER, USE. PROPERLY PRESCREEN HER MOTHER, USE PROPER SURGICAL. HER MOTHER, USE PROPER SURGICAL TECHCHNIQUES AND. TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT, AND FAILED TO PROPERLY MONINITOR. EQUIPMENT, AND FAILEDD TO PROPERLY MONITOR HER DURING AND AFTER. HER DURING AND AFTER SURGERY. THE FAMILIES OF THE. SURGERY. THE FAMILIES OF THE TWO OTHER PAPATIENTS. THE FAMILIES OF THTHE TWO OTHER PATIENTS WHO DIED ALSO SUED. TWO OTHER PATIENTS WHO DIED ALSO SUSUED THE DOCTOR. WHWHO DIED ALSO SUED THE DOCTOR. ONE SETTLED, THE. THE DOCTOR. ONE SETTLED, THE OTHER LAWSUIT IS. ONE SESETTLED, THE OTHER LAWSUIT IS ONGOING. OTHER LAWSUIT IS ONGOING. >> I'M S SURE 1,000. ONGOING. >> I'M SURE 1,000 PERCENT SURE, IF MY. >> I'M SURE 1,000 PERCENT SURE, IF MY MOM HAD D KNOWN, SHE. PERCENT SURE, IF MY MOM HAHAD KNOWN, SHE WOULD NOT HAVE LET. MOM HAD KNOWN, SHE WOULD NOT HAVE LET THAT WOMAN TOUCH HER. WOULD NOT HAVE LET THAT WOMAN TOUCH HER. >> Repororter: BALLARD. >> Reporter: BALLARD FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MEDICAL.

FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MEDICAL BOARD OF CALALIFORNIA. WITH THE MEDICAL BOARD OF CALALIFORNIA. IT'S BEEN NEARLY TWO. BOARD OF CALIFORNIA. IT'S BEEN NEARLYLY TWO YEARS. IT'S BEEN NEARLY TWO YEARS. BALLARD SAYS SHE'S. BALLARD SAYS SHE'S FRUSTRATED PATIENTS HAVE NO WAY TO LEARN. FRUSTRATEDED PATIENTS HAVE NO WAY TO LEARN ABOUT ANY ONGOING. HAVE NO WAY TO LEARN ABOUT ANY ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS. ABOUT ANY ONGOING INVESTSTIGATIONS. >> I SAY THE MEDICAL. INVESTSTIGATIONS. >> I SAY THE MEDICAL BOARD DOES NOT CARE. >> I SAY THE MEDEDICAL BOARD DOES NOT CARE. >> YOU BELIEVE THE. >> YOU BELIEVE THE MEDICAL BOARD DOES NOT CARE WHETHER A. MEDICAL BOARD DOES NOT CARE WHETHER A PATIENT LIVES OR. NOT CARE WHETHER A PATIENT LIVES OR DIDIES? PATIENT T LIVES OR DIES? >> ABSOLUTELY. DIES? >> ABSOLUTELY. AND I CAN LOOK YOU. >> ABSOLUTELY. AND I CAN LOOK YOU STRAIGHT IN THE EYE. AND I CAN LOOK YOU STRAIGHT IN THTHE EYE AND TELL YOU THAT. STRAIGHT IN THE EYE AND TELL YOU THAT WITH NOTHING INSIDE. AND TELL YOU THAT WITH NOTHING INSIDE OF ME DOUBTING WHAT. WITH NOTHING INSIDE OF ME DOUBTING WHAT I'M SAYIYING IS THE. OF ME DOUBTING WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. I'M SAYING IS THE ABSOLULUTE TRUTH. >> Reporter: TJ.

>> Reporter: TJ WATKINS HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL. WATKINS HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL BOARD FOR SIX YEARS. NS. BOARD FOR SIX YEARS. HE SAYS SITUATIONSNS LIKE THIS ARE VERY. HE SAYS SITUATIONSNS LIKE THIS ARE VERY COMMON, POINTING TO A. LIKE THIS ARE VERY COMMON, POINTING TO A DISCIPLINARY PROCESS. COMMON, POINTING TO A DISCIPLILINARY PROCESS THAT ENDANGERED. THAT ENDANGERED PATIENTS AND IS RIGGED IN FAVOR OF. PATIENTS AND IS RIGGED IN FAVOR OF THE E DOCTORS. RIGGED IN FAVOR OF THE DOCTORS. >> NOBODY IS. >> NOBODY IS PROTECTING THE PATIENT. PROTECTING THE PATIENT. IF YOU WERE. IF YOU WERE PROTECTING THE PATIENENTS, THERE WOULD. PROTECTINGNG THE PATIENTS, THERE WOULD BE A NOTICE BY NOW. BE A NOTICE BY NOW THAT SAYS THE DOCTOR IS BEING. THAT SAYS THE DOCTOR IS BEING INVESTIGATED. INVESTIGATED. >> Reporter: WATKINS IS NOW ADVOCOCATING FOR. IS NOW ADVOCATING FOR STATE LEGISLATION THAT ALERTS THE. STATE LEGISLATION THAT ALERTS THE PUBLIC WHEN A DOCTCTOR. THAT ALERTS THE PUBLIC WHEN N A DOCTOR IS BEING INVESTIGATED. PUPUBLIC WHEN A DOCTOR IS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR SERIOUS OFFENSE. FOR SERIOUS OFFENSE. >> RIGHT NOW, THERE'S AN ASSUMPTION THAT. >> RIGHT NOW, THERE'S AN ASSUMPTION THAT ALL DOCTORS ARE SAFE.

AN ASSUMPTION THAT ALL DOCTORS ARE SAFE. AND THAT IS TRUE MOST. ALL DOCTORS ARE SAFE. AND THAT IS TRUE MOST OF THE TIME. AND THAT IS TRUE MOST OF THE TIME. BUT IN A SMALL. OF THE TIME. BUT IN A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE. BUT IN A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE TIME, IT IS. PERCENTAGE OF THE TIME, IT IS ABSOLUTELY N NOT TRUE. TIME, IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.E. >> Reporter: IN A. >> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT, THE CALIFORNIA MEDICAL. STATEMENT, THE CALIFORNIA MEDEDICAL BOARD SAYS STATE LAWS. BOARD SAYS STATE LAWS LIMIT WHAT INFORMATION CAN BE. LIMIT WHAT INFORMATION CAN BEBE MADE PUBLIC. INFORMATION CAN BE MADE PUBLIC. WRITINING THE BOARD. MADE PUBLIC. WRITING G THE BOARD DILIGENTLY REVIEWS. WRITING THE BOARD DILIGENTLY REVIEWS AND INVESTIGATES ALL. AND INVESTIGATES ALL COMPLAINTS, ADDINGNG IT IS WRONG TO SAY THE. IS WRONG TO SAY THE BOARD IS FAILING PATIENTS AND. BOARD IS FAILING PATIENENTS AND ENDANGERING LIVES. PATIENTS AND ENDANGNGERING LIVES. AS FOR THE DOCTOR, AS FOR THE DOCTOR, HER LAWYERS HAVE DENIED THE CLAIMS. HER LAWYERS HAVE DENIED THE CLAIMS AGAINST HER ININ COURT. DENIED THE CLAIMS AGAINST HER IN COURT. >>>> SHE HAS A LICENSE. AGAINST HER IN COURT. >> SHE HAS A LICENSE TO KILL. >> SHE HAS A LICENSE TO KILL. WHEN IS IT GOING TO.

TO KILL. WHEN IS IT GOIOING TO STOP? STOP? >> AND HOW WOULD YOU KNOW? >> AND HOW WOULD Y YOU KNOW? >> HOW WILL WE KNOW? KNOW? >> HOW WILL WE KNOW? >> AND WITH THAT, >> HOW WILL WE KNOW? >> AND WITH THAT, ERIN JOINS US NONOW. >> AND WITH THAT, ERIN JOINSNS US NOW LIVE IN STUDIO. ERIN JOINS US NOW LIVEVE IN STUDIO. ERIN, WE'RE NOW. ERIN, WE'RE NOW HEARING ABOUT A FOURTH PATIEIENT WHO IS. HEARING ABOUT A FOURTH PATIENT WHO IS POTENTIALLLLY INJURED. POTENTIALLY INJURED BY THIS DOCTOR. >> THAT'S RIGHT, T TOM. BY THIS DOCTOR. >> THAT'S RIGHT, TOM. LAST MONONTH, >> THAT'S RIGHT, TOM. LAST MONTH, CALIFOFORNIA'S MEDICAL. LAST MONTH, , CALIFORNIA'S MEDICAL BOARD FILED AN. CALIFORNIA'S MEDICAL BOARD FILED AN ADMINISTRATITIVE. ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT AGAINST THE DOCTOR. DOCTOR. IT CAME AFTER NBC NEWS REQUESTED. IT CAME AFTER NBC NEWS REQUESTED COMMMMENT, THOUGH IT IS.