A pediatric dental office in Fort Worth, Texas, continued operating for more than three months after a four-year-old girl died during a routine procedure, sparking outrage among parents.
Girl died during frenectomy
Aithana Arriaga died on April 1 after undergoing a frenectomy, a tongue-tie procedure, at Cuddle Kids Dental Care. The business remained open for 15 weeks until Dr. Chrishelle Hemphill was arrested on July 15 and charged with reckless injury to a child.
A sign on the front door now confirms the practice is closed, according to Fox News.
Parents unknowingly took children to same dentist
Hevan Pittman told Fox News he unknowingly took his daughter to Dr. Hemphill for the same procedure just five days after Arriaga's death. 'No one told me anything about what happened five days before I had my daughter in there for a procedure,' he said.
Two months later, Pittman's sister, Cheyenne Mahana, also took her four-year-old daughter to Dr. Hemphill for a lip tie procedure. 'If something like that happens, they should not be allowed to still be practicing,' she said.
Alleged drug overdose
Authorities allege Hemphill administered meperidine (Demerol), nitrous oxide, and two other medications during Arriaga's frenectomy. The child did not wake up after the procedure. Hemphill and another dentist attempted CPR until medics arrived, but the girl was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The child's mother said she was not allowed in the room during the procedure and later alleged Hemphill placed an ice lolly on the girl's lips to try to wake her.
Toxic levels of meperidine
A medical examiner determined Arriaga died from meperidine toxicity. According to an affidavit reported by People, a doctor told a detective that the dosage found in the child's system would be toxic for an adult. 'About 200 to 500 ng/mL of meperidine in a person's system is typically therapeutic for an adult. The amount found in the victim was 793 ng/mL,' the affidavit states.
Arriaga was also given flumazenil in an attempt to resuscitate her. A board-certified anesthesiologist specializing in dental pediatrics told a detective that the child needed Narcan 'to reverse the respiratory depressant effects of the opioid. Instead, they gave flumazenil (which reverses drugs she wasn't given) and didn't administer Narcan till much later in the hospital.'
The detective said: 'Throughout this investigation I have learned from Hemphill's own statements, her staff's statements and from medical professionals that there was evident neglect on Hemphill's part that led to Aithana's death.'
Attorney responds
Hemphill's attorney, Michael P. Heiskell, told NBC: 'This is a heartbreaking tragedy and our condolences are with the family. At the same time, allegations contained in an affidavit are not proof. As a reminder, Dr. Hemphill is presumed innocent and we intend to hold the government to its burden of proof as the facts are tested in the courtroom and not in the press.'
