There are two sides to this, which makes it tough for those trying to get help on a budget. You are completely right, and it's sad that they were trying to do something to improve their health and this happened. However, I wouldn't even drink the water in Tijuana. I'm surprised that anyone is desperate enough to try elective surgery there. I'd choose to keep the excess weight (even with all those risks).
Here is the thing. People hear from dozens or more of people who had various surgical procedures in Mexico. Tijuana really does have clean new clinics and lots of nurses and good doctors. So the person decides to go for it because it’s 1/3 the cost of their home town. So many other people are fine and happy after.
What you don’t hear is that when a patient dies, it’s kept quiet. The doctor is still advertising online afterward. No one knows, and in Mexico bribes are everything.
What I did for one of my surgeries is to shop in other states and did find a great surgeon in Nevada with beside manner experience and success rates who charged less than in Beverly Hills. It was even less with travel and hotel.