Victim's family speaks out one year after cosmetic surgery death

SAVANNAH, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -

One year ago this week, April Jenkins died after having cosmetic surgery at a metro Atlanta med spa. For the first time, Jenkins' father, Hal Jenkins, is talking about that tragic day and wondering why the Georgia Medical Board hasn't taken action against the doctor.

"She was the love of our life, she was everything to us," Hal Jenkins said. "It's just very hurtful to even talk about her because I miss her so much."

April Jenkins died last February while undergoing liposuction performed by Dr. Nedra Dodds at Opulence Aesthetic Medicine in Kennesaw.

"She didn't take care of my sister and that hurts me to this day," April Jenkins' sister, Audrey Jenkins, said.

Employees in the operating room during the procedure said April Jenkins complained that it was "tearing and burning." They also told police a rag was placed in April Jenkins' mouth to quiet her.

The medical examiner found a perforation in April Jenkins' diaphragm as well as multiple puncture wounds to her liver.

"Someone that's supposed to be professional and they let something like this happen to her. I can't understand it," Hal Jenkins said.

Even though it's been a year since April Jenkins died, the family has yet to see any action by authorities. The state medical board continues to allow Dodds to practice, despite complaints from employees that she was behaving irresponsibly before and after April Jenkins died.

"They'd be restrained because they'd be waking up and screaming, 'Oh this hurts,' and people in the waiting room would hear screaming, but she'd keep going and keep liposuctioning as these people are screaming, but they wouldn't remember because the medications made them forget," a nurse that had worked for Dodds said.

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Victim's family speaks out one year after cosmetic surgery death