Indian dentist tries to extract 20 teeth at once,kills patient

Image
Press Trust of India New York
Last Updated : May 23 2014 | 5:29 PM IST
License of an Indian dentist was revoked in the US after he attempted to extract 20 teeth from the mouth of a 64-year-old woman in one sitting which led to her death.
The dentist, Doctor Rashmi Patel was performing the procedure on Judith Gan on February 17 when she gurgled and lost consciousness.
The procedure included placing implants in the woman's mouth after removing the teeth, according to the New York Daily News.
The paper quoted Patel's assistant as saying that he had requested him to stop the procedure before calling the emergency services.
"He wanted to complete the placement of implants as the assistant begged Patel to stop working, and finally ran out and called 911, but the patient had already flat-lined," the state Department of Public Health wrote in a report.
"The four count petition found, among an array of other misdeeds, that Patel deviated from standard of care in that he did not timely and properly respond to Gan's oxygen desaturation and/or respiratory distress and/or cardio-pulmonary distress," state records reported.
"Gan did not have to die to receive this dental treatment and it is because of Patel's negligence that she died," said a dentist who was asked to review the case for the Department of Health.
Patel's license, issued in 2003, was suspended on April 21 pending a June 18 hearing in front of the state dental commission. Patel runs two clinics in Enfield and Torrington.
"Patel has been ordered to stay away from his patients after one died and another spent six days in the hospital," state health officials said.
The horror of Gan's botched procedure came after a December incident, when a 55-year-old man "aspirated the throat pack" and was rushed to the hospital. The victim stopped breathing and spent six days in the hospital after suffering heart and lung damage.
Patel was also sued for malpractice by a former employee in 2009 after he performed "shoddy" dental work. Doreen Jasonis won nearly USD 500,000 from a jury in 2011, but the ruling was appealed and eventually ended with an out-of-court settlement.
The dentist's attorney says both clinics remain open and that Patel will fight the charges.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: May 23 2014 | 5:29 PM IST

Next Story