Routine wisdom tooth surgery turned deadly for one teen when she was deprived of oxygen during an extraction procedure. For parents in Ohio as well as throughout the country, the fear of hospital malpractice is at its highest when children are involved. In this case, the parents chose to file a malpractice lawsuit against the healthcare professionals involved in the teen’s death.
The 17-year-old girl died after routine surgery to extract a wisdom tooth. An autopsy revealed that she had been deprived of oxygen during the procedure, leading to a coma from which she never recovered. The parents filed a civil lawsuit, naming the anesthesiologist, the surgeon, and the medical office as respondents. The suit claimed that the staff failed to revive the girl when her heart rate slowed dangerously, indicating that her brain was not receiving sufficient oxygen.
The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. The girl’s mother stated that she wanted to raise awareness of the dangers of undergoing oral surgery; however, the parents refused to make public the teen’s medical records. The defendants claimed that some pre-existing condition may have contributed to her death.
It is common for medical malpractice cases to be settled out of court. Most defendants realize that a jury may award far more in damages than they would pay through a settlement agreement. Residents of Ohio who have suffered injuries caused by medical malpractice may wish to consult medical malpractice attorneys. Medical malpractice attorneys may be able to help them recover damages.
Source: The Baltimore Sun, “Malpractice claim in teen’s wisdom teeth death settled out of court,” Kevin Rector, April 3, 2013