LAS VEGAS -- A new ad campaign is warning the Latino community in southern Nevada about the dangers of unlicensed doctors. It's aimed at educating people and hopefully saving lives.
State legislators have approved $47,000 that will fund the campaign lead by the state health division.
"We want to be able to protect people, people need to get the best health care they can," said State Senator Mo Denis.
Las Vegas has had it's share of illegal operations. Elena Caro went in for a buttocks enhancement in April 2011 and put her life in the hands of Ruben Dario Matallana-Galvas and Carmen Olfidia Torres-Sanchez. It turned out to be a deadly decision. Caro died after a botched surgery and the two so-called doctors are now facing up to eight years in prison.
"It was a human being who lost her life," said Atzimba Luna Becerril with the Mexican Consulate in Las Vegas. She says there are a number of reasons why people choose to go to the self-proclaimed doctors.
"People are making these choices because they don't have access to insurance, they don't have access to education, they don't know what the options are."
In November, police busted Jing Qu after, they say, she performed an eye lift operation in a home. The victim survived. Qu is behind bars awaiting her court date.
"I don't think it's really a matter of people who speak Spanish, people who come from a different culture, every body is facing the crunch on the economy,"Becerril said.
Denis says the new campaign will target the Latino community.
"They don't want to be a burden on society. They want to try and cover it themselves and so sometimes they will go to somebody that costs less because they can afford to do that," Denis said.
There is no date yet when the new campaign will be unveiled.
State Senator Mo Denis
