New York City residents might be interested in a lawsuit that is currently taking place in Hawaii. A toddler’s parents are suing a pediatric dentist whom they claim is responsible for their little girl’s death. On Dec. 3, the toddler went to the dentist for a procedure; however, something went wrong that caused her to go brain-dead. A month later, she died in a hospice.
The lawsuit alleges that the toddler was given incorrect medications with the wrong dosages. The court documents go on to say that the little girl was not monitored properly once she had been given the medications, and the result was cardiac arrest and permanent and severe brain damage. The medical malpractice lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, claims that the dentist did not have a plan to respond to medical emergencies. The office website states that the practice has been permanently shut down.
The girl’s parents claim that the toddler remained unmonitored for 26 minutes after she was sedated. Her pediatric neurologist stated that MRIs revealed that the toddler experienced severe brain damage, which left her in a constant vegetative state. After spending a few weeks in the hospital, she was moved to the hospice towards the end of December.
Most parents don’t want to outlive their children, and the grief these parents may feel must be unimaginable. Although monetary compensation will not bring their little girl back, it could help to ease the stress that might have been caused by medical bills as well as funeral expenses. This couple reached out to an attorney, who could work through the court system as well as insurance companies to help them reach a settlement.
Source: CNN, “Hawaiian girl, 3, dies after dental procedure“, Khushbu Shah, January 04, 2014
