Arizona woman had weight loss surgery in Mexico prior to death, family claims

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An Arizona family is mourning the death of their 24-year-old daughter who they claim sought weight loss surgery in Mexico and later died in a hospital in her home state due to complications from the procedure. Dulce Herrera, who died in early May, allegedly traveled to Tijuana after being connected with the facility through a Facebook group. 

Her family, who spoke to ABC15.com, said she developed an infection in her intestines from the surgery and was hospitalized in Scottsdale when she returned home. The family said they are unsure if the doctor who performed the bariatric surgery was certified to do so, and alleged low cost may have played a role in her decision to travel for it. 

“If she could hear me now, I would tell her don’t do it,” Maria Rodriguez, the woman’s mother, told ABC15.com. 

Each year millions of Americans participate in medical tourism or traveling to another country in search of medical care. Reasons include cost, culture or even to seek care or therapy not available or approved in the U.S.

“Overseas facilities may not maintain accreditation or provider licensure, track patient outcome data, or maintain formal medical record privacy or security policies,” the CDC warns. “Medical tourists should also be aware that the drugs and medical products and devices used in foreign countries might not be subject to the same regulatory scrutiny and oversight as in the United States. In addition, some drugs may be counterfeit or otherwise ineffective (for example, expired, contaminated, or improperly stored).” 

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