hard lesson learned for us all......

whirlwind · 01-26-2004, 12:13 AM

a few weeks ago here in my small town a child was rushed to the emergency room,he had stopped breathing. the child had (the day before) been to the dentist to have an abcess (i think) removed. of course the dentist was called to the hospital.all were puzzled...the child passed away,he was 7 or 8 if i remember correctly. of course the dentist came under the spotlight but what was shown to be the cause of the childs passing was that he was an asmatic (sp?) and the parents didnt know to tell the dentist about his inhaler and it acted adversly with the anesthesia. if any of you have small children tell the dr or dentist everythingthey take stronger than water!

BattleRifleG3 · 01-26-2004, 12:35 AM

That's terrible to hear. My heart goes out to his family. I don't even have children yet and the thought of losing a child is still painful to think of.

Rufus Rhastus J · 01-26-2004, 08:52 AM

that's very good advice:nod:

Oxford · 01-26-2004, 12:28 PM

Something doesn't add up right. The report said the boy went to the dentist one day and the following day stopped breathing.

I don't know if the residual gasses in his body could cause him to stop breathing the next day or not. Seems unlikely to me. Hopefully an autopsy is performed which should reveal the real cause of death.

The boy's death might have been the strictly the result of a severe asthma attack which can cause death very easily even with quick medical treatment. Don't know if the anesthesia had anything to do with this attack or not with the information listed in the original post.

Regardless, the dentist critically needed to be aware of the patient's asthma problem before being given anesthesia. The dentist should ask questions about specific health concerns, and the parents should have mentioned this problem regardless of what the dentist asked.

I had a friend of mine who had a fatal severe asthesma attack, too. Even with quick medical attention she was unable to be revived.

Regardless of who is at fault, this is a terrible loss of life. Don't think there could be anything worse than losing your son or daughter.

Ox:nod:

dhermesc · 01-26-2004, 01:12 PM

I agree with OX, the asthma would only have come into play when actually under the effects of anesthesia. Frightening but even in this day and age people can and do die from asthma attacks even with emergancy aid at hand. Our four year old is taking so many medications our family doctor has to check his DP book to make sure that any new medications will not conflict with the collage he is currently taking.

whirlwind · 01-26-2004, 05:16 PM

apologies,i should have been clearer. it said the boy went to the dentist,then went home that evening and went to sleep and from that moment he never woke up again but didnt pass till the next day. the parents took him to the hospital that same evening sorry guys. and they did say it was the combonatrion of the inhaler and the anesthesia that did it.

Oxford · 01-26-2004, 10:22 PM

Thanks for the additional clarification, Whirlwind. That's still an avoidable accident which should never have happened.

Hope you'll keep us informed if any additional information or legal actions are taken.

whirlwind · 01-26-2004, 10:34 PM

roger that ox! as of yet i havent heard of any legal action that will be taken. its a sad situation all around.will report anything i hear about it.

01-26-2004, 12:13 AM	#1
whirlwind Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: oklahoma Posts: 3,737 Images: 1	hard lesson learned for us all...... a few weeks ago here in my small town a child was rushed to the emergency room,he had stopped breathing. the child had (the day before) been to the dentist to have an abcess (i think) removed. of course the dentist was called to the hospital.all were puzzled...the child passed away,he was 7 or 8 if i remember correctly. of course the dentist came under the spotlight but what was shown to be the cause of the childs passing was that he was an asmatic (sp?) and the parents didnt know to tell the dentist about his inhaler and it acted adversly with the anesthesia. if any of you have small children tell the dr or dentist everythingthey take stronger than water! __________________ De oppresso liber !

01-26-2004, 12:35 AM	#2
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	That's terrible to hear. My heart goes out to his family. I don't even have children yet and the thought of losing a child is still painful to think of. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

01-26-2004, 08:52 AM	#3
Rufus Rhastus J Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West, Central Florida, Third World America Posts: 6,339 Images: 1	very sad... that's very good advice:nod: __________________ "They cannot be trusted.....The Romulans (our politicos) are without honor." Worf

01-26-2004, 12:28 PM	#4
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,023 Blog Entries: 4	Something doesn't add up right. The report said the boy went to the dentist one day and the following day stopped breathing. I don't know if the residual gasses in his body could cause him to stop breathing the next day or not. Seems unlikely to me. Hopefully an autopsy is performed which should reveal the real cause of death. The boy's death might have been the strictly the result of a severe asthma attack which can cause death very easily even with quick medical treatment. Don't know if the anesthesia had anything to do with this attack or not with the information listed in the original post. Regardless, the dentist critically needed to be aware of the patient's asthma problem before being given anesthesia. The dentist should ask questions about specific health concerns, and the parents should have mentioned this problem regardless of what the dentist asked. I had a friend of mine who had a fatal severe asthesma attack, too. Even with quick medical attention she was unable to be revived. Regardless of who is at fault, this is a terrible loss of life. Don't think there could be anything worse than losing your son or daughter. Ox:nod: __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

01-26-2004, 01:12 PM	#5
dhermesc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: East Central Kansas Posts: 1,762	I agree with OX, the asthma would only have come into play when actually under the effects of anesthesia. Frightening but even in this day and age people can and do die from asthma attacks even with emergancy aid at hand. Our four year old is taking so many medications our family doctor has to check his DP book to make sure that any new medications will not conflict with the collage he is currently taking. __________________ Liberty is for those that claim it.

01-26-2004, 05:16 PM	#6
whirlwind Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: oklahoma Posts: 3,737 Images: 1	apologies,i should have been clearer. it said the boy went to the dentist,then went home that evening and went to sleep and from that moment he never woke up again but didnt pass till the next day. the parents took him to the hospital that same evening sorry guys. and they did say it was the combonatrion of the inhaler and the anesthesia that did it. __________________ De oppresso liber !

01-26-2004, 10:22 PM	#7
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,023 Blog Entries: 4	Thanks for the additional clarification, Whirlwind. That's still an avoidable accident which should never have happened. Hope you'll keep us informed if any additional information or legal actions are taken. __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right". Last edited by Oxford; 01-27-2004 at 12:04 AM.

01-26-2004, 10:34 PM	#8
whirlwind Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: oklahoma Posts: 3,737 Images: 1	roger that ox! as of yet i havent heard of any legal action that will be taken. its a sad situation all around.will report anything i hear about it. __________________ De oppresso liber !