In one of the most devastating instances of alleged dental malpractice, a 51-year-old veteran and father from Volo died shortly after a tooth extraction surgery at his dentist’s office in Gurnee because he was given too much anesthesia. The Lake County State Attorney’s Office is investigating the case to determine if criminal charges should be filed.
Cause of Death at Dentist Office
The man went in for his tooth extraction surgery on June 9, according to news reports. He was allegedly given a single dose of 200 milligrams of the drug propofol. He stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest during the procedure. Paramedics transported him by ambulance to the Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where he died the next day.
The Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek linked the anesthesia to his death, saying that it was too much and would render a patient unable to breathe.
How This Tragedy Could Have Been Prevented
According to the coroner, there were many mistakes that the dentist made in the case. Some of those that might result in a finding of oral surgeon malpractice include:
- Not prescribing the right type of anesthesia based on the patient’s co-morbidities
- Administering too large of a dose to the patient
- Not setting up all the necessary monitoring devices during the procedure, including an EKG
- Not providing supplemental oxygen to the patient
- Failing to properly monitor the patient during the surgery
The coroner said that these practices were a deviation from the standard of care and a “recipe for disaster.”
Additionally, the coroner noted that it is best practice to have two individuals present during such a procedure, with one performing the procedure and the other administering anesthesia. According to the coroner, the oral surgeon can bill for the anesthesia and the procedure, so there is no incentive to have a second specialist present, even though doing so is much safer for patients.
This tragedy could have been prevented had the dentist operated within the appropriate standard of care by ensuring he gave the patient the proper amount of anesthesia, had another specialist present and properly monitored the patient.
Need a Dental Malpractice Attorney? Salvi Law Can Help
Sadly, this is not an isolated incident of Gurnee medical malpractice. Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C., has seen its fair share of medical providers who prioritize profits over patient safety. We firmly believe that mistakes like these simply should not happen.
In 2000, Founder and Managing Equity Partner Patrick A. Salvi won a $4.5 million wrongful-death settlement on behalf of the parents of a Gurnee boy who died after he received a general anesthetic before dental surgery. Shortly after being administered the anesthetic, the 7-year-old boy began to have trouble breathing. The young boy was then taken to Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee, where he died three days later.
Attorney Patrick A. Salvi said the dentist was negligent in failing to take precautions when he was determining the amount of anesthetic needed for a child.
If you or a loved one was harmed due to an anesthesia error, dental malpractice, or a healthcare provider’s mistake, you need a medical malpractice lawyer who will fight tirelessly for the compensation and justice you deserve. Our experienced trial lawyers have recovered more than $1.6 billion to date. For more than 40 years, we have fought to protect the rights of patients and to secure the compensation they need to heal after being hurt by healthcare provider’s mistakes. We offer a free consultation to discuss your legal options. Contact us today to get started.
