Atlanta Injury Lawyers BlogDentist Sued Again for Dental Negligence
A retired dentist, who earlier this year settled a wrongful death dental negligence lawsuit arising from the death of a teenager under his care, is being sued again by another patient. A lawsuit filed in December accuses the 81-year-old retired dentist of dental negligence. The lawsuit has been filed by a woman, who says that she went to the dentist for treatment in December 2010. She claims to have suffered serious injuries, including seizures, neurological damage and other devastating injuries while undergoing treatment at the doctor’s clinic. Some of her injuries are alleged to be permanent. The lawsuit seeks damages to compensate the plaintiff for her injuries that resulted from the alleged malpractice.
It must seem like déjà vu all over again for the 81-year-old retired dentist. In October, his insurer settled a dental wrongful death lawsuit with the family of a teenager who died while undergoing a dental procedure at his office. The parents of the 13-year-old girl had filed a lawsuit against him after their daughter died while under sedation during the surgery. The girl had visited the doctor to have 2 teeth removed, and was given a combination of sedatives. During the procedure, the girl collapsed, and was rushed to the hospital. She was immediately placed on a ventilator, but died a few days later. The cause of her death was ruled as diffuse hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
Complications during anesthesia in the dental chair are rare, but when these do happen, it is important to timely obtain a complete and accurate copy of the patient file to determine if an error was made and whether that error caused or substantially contributed to the injuries caused by the anesthesia error. This is the first step prior to filing a lawsuit and should be performed in a timely manner.
The settlement was made by the insurance company, and the insured dentist apparently did not agree with the settlement. Soon after the death of the teenager, the dentist agreed to stop giving intravenous sedation, and he has since retired. The dentist doesn’t seem to be admitting to any negligence in this new lawsuit either. He has already called the allegations ‘groundless,’ and says that the woman who filed the latest lawsuit suffered an allergic reaction during the procedure.
Robert J. Fleming is an Atlanta dental malpractice lawyer, helping persons who have been injured by the negligence of dentists, dental technicians and other dental professionals recover compensation for their injuries. Attorney Fleming has been handling wrongful death cases, automobile accident cases, personal injury cases, dental malpractice and medical malpractice lawsuits for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 20 years in and around Atlanta, Georgia and its surrounding areas, including Alpharetta, Austell, Avondale Estates, Chamblee, College Park, Conyers, Duluth, Decatur, Doraville, Hapeville, Johns Creek, Jonesboro, Lawrenceville, Norcross, Peachtree City, Riverdale, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Stone Mountain, and Smyrna. If you have been seriously injured and would like quality legal representation, contact Robert J. Fleming directly on (404) 525-5150 or contact us online.
