Sometimes surgical procedures are risky, and patients and their families in New York understand the higher possibility of injury or death. However, when death results from a routine, seemingly simple surgery, families are often left stunned and confused. Parents in another state are devastated after the death of their vibrant teenage daughter during a dental extraction. After denying their intent to sue for medical malpractice, the parents have reconsidered.
The 17-year-old went to an oral surgeon to have her wisdom teeth extracted. Apparently, something went wrong during the first minutes of the procedure, and she went into cardiac arrest and died. The lawsuit filed by the girl’s parents accuses the dentist of not following proper procedure for the administration of anesthesia and failing to adequately monitor the patient while she was sedated. These allegations stem from conclusions drawn in a Board of Dentistry investigation of the incident.
Originally, the state board in the dentist’s home town made the unusual move of suspending the man’s license. However, that order was lifted after six weeks. Now placed under restriction indefinitely, the dentist may still see patients but is prohibited from performing procedures requiring sedation. The parents’ lawsuit seeks at least $50,000, but the amount could potentially be much higher.
Parents place great trust in medical professionals, and the death of a child during a medical procedure may be overwhelming. Those in New York who have endured this great loss have the right to seek legal counsel. A medical malpractice lawsuit may be warranted if a doctor’s negligence resulted in the injury or death of a loved one.
Source: startribune.com, “Family of teen who died after wisdom teeth procedure sues Edina dentist“, Paul Walsh, Jan. 27, 2017