Settlement Reached In Virginia Wrongful Death Lawsuit

A settlement has been reached in a Virginia wrongful death lawsuit that was filed on behalf of a 6-year-old Richmond, Virginia, boy who died during a dental procedure.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports the lawsuit stems from the May 11, 2010, incident where the child entered the Virginia Commonwealth University Pediatric Dental Clinic in Henrico County to have caps put on several of his teeth. During the procedure, a breathing tube was inserted into the child’s throat while he was anesthetized, but when it was removed, the child suffered from a heart dysrhythmia and died shortly after arrival at a hospital.

The Virginia wrongful death lawsuit filed by the boy’s mother claimed the dentist who performed the procedure, along with certified registered nurse anesthetists, failed to properly monitor the child’s conditions throughout anesthesia. The lawsuit goes on to allege medical personnel overseeing the child’s care also were negligent in not monitoring other vital signs such as respiration, heart rate, and oxygen saturation levels. Furthermore, doctors failed to recognize the boy’s obstructed airway in a timely manner.

While the state accepted no responsibility for the boy’s death, the family will receive $100,000 for their loss.