Five Year Old David Liddell Stops Breathing At Dental Clinic - Later Pronounced Dead

Update March 21, 2011: Re: Dr. Derek Mason and David Liddell's death

I received the following paragraph from a reader:

David went to the dentist to receive his dental treatment. He was accompanied by his older sister and his mother. David's family was not allowed to go to the back with David for his treatment. David was happy and healthy when he arrived. David was in the back for only ten short minutes before something went wrong with his procedure. He was not in the back long enough to finish his dental work, the dentist was just getting started.  David's mother was called to the back when things went wrong where he laid not moving strapped down with vomit on his clothes, no seizure was apparent the child was not conscious and strapped down. No one was doing CPR or anything. Dr. (Derek) Mason assured  the family that David was okay and he was dead. There's nothing natural about a five year old child dying under the care of a dental physician. Dr. (Derek) Mason stated that the ambulance came to late. To late for what? What happened while David was under his care? David Liddell had a chromosomal deletion which caused him to be physically and mentally delayed other that he was very healthy at the time of his visit to the dentist.

August 19, 2010 7:26PM

Five year old David Liddell stopped breathing while at Children's Dentistry of Camp Creek in Atlanta on July 12, 2010.  David was rushed by ambulance to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.  Children's Dentistry is owned by Derek Mason, DDS.  It is reported little David had a seizure after the dental treatment was completed, but before they left the office.  I am afraid since this sweet child had an underlying medical issue, a closer look into his death will not take place.  I hope I am wrong.

 

 

Dr. Derek Mason is not registered as a Pediatric Dentist at the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. 

Visiting his clinic's website there are various pictures confirming the clinic is a "volume" based, with as many as 5 hygiene stations.

Under the "Meet The Doctors" section it appears that Dr. Mason is the only dentist as it lists no others.  Here is what the site has to say about Dr. Mason:

Dr. Derek Mason, DDS

Prior to attending dental school, Dr. Derek Mason attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. After attending Morehouse College of Atlanta, Dr. Derek Mason went to Meharry Medical College, School of Dentistry in Nashville, TN. Dr. Derek Mason spent four years as required to graduate with the title of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). Dr. Derek Mason went on to complete his residency at Kings County Hospital Dental Clinic and Maimonides Medical Center, both of Brooklyn, NY. This training enabled his continued growth and development, pediatric dentistry, hospital dentistry, treatment of traumatic injuries, treating patients with special needs, and specialized areas unique to younger children and adolescents.

Children's Dentistry of Camp Creek: A Galaxy of Smiles

Derek D. Mason, DDS & Associates - Pediatric Dentist

Ph: 404-349-7900  Fax: 404-349-7899  3890 Redwine Rd. Suite 206  Atlanta, GA 30331

 The Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry offers graduate programs for General Dentistry and Oral Maxilliofacial Surgery. (DMD and DDS).  However Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn has a 2 year residency program where they have 4 new openings each year.  

The only other reports that can be found is from the AP and it is very short and sweet.

ATLANTA (AP) - The Fulton County medical examiner’s office says it’s investigating the death of a 5-year-old boy who died after going to the dentist.
The medical examiner’s office identified the boy as David Liddell of Atlanta and says he died Friday.
Atlanta police say the dental work was completed when the boy had a seizure. They say he was taken to Children’s Hospital of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding, where he died later that day.
The medical examiner’s office says the death appears to be from natural causes, but investigators want to review medical records and lab test results before a ruling is issued.

Questions:

• No statement from the AAPD?
• How much local anesthesia was used?
• Was he or had he been sedated?
• Was is heart rate being monitored?
• Was he strapped in a papoose board?
• Was CPR performed?  
• Did he vomit during treatment?
• Was his mother present during treatment?
• No further followup information available?

 Little David Liddell makes death number 6 in two years.

Related Posts

4 Year Old Tulsa Child Dead After Sedation At Pediatric Dental Group, Tulsa, Oklahoma – Charles Keithline, DDS! 4 Dead Children In 4 Months!

Is anyone paying attention to this issue. 

I'm thinking no. 

I hope someone takes this up and does NOT leave it to the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry,  they let citizens down every day!  Dental Boards fall far short on protecting the citizens of Oklahoma, but it's not just Oklahoma!

Dr. Charles Russell Keithline III's dental licenses ( # 3942) shows he has been disciplined before!  Why is that not in the report?  Call the  Board of Dentistry (405) 524-9037 for more information.

Here is what I found:

Dr. Charles Keithline # 3942
Charges: practiced dentistry in an incompetent and/or negligent manner.
Action: 6 month suspension  and 5 yrs. probation. 

(I'm told it was due to drug addiction, but can not verify)
 

This death happened on August 14, 2010.  The earliest reports I can find are from yesterday, August 20, 2010, and  only from one source.  Why?

***********

Tulsa, OK
By KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer
Published: 8/20/2010  11:00 PM
Last Modified: 8/20/2010  11:00 PM

The Tulsa Police Department and the Oklahoma Dentistry Board are investigating the death of a 4-year-old girl who had been put under sedation for a dental procedure at a Tulsa pediatric dental clinic.

Akasmse Rose Tecumseh of Morris died Aug. 14 after leaving Pediatric Dental Group, 602 S. Utica Ave.

“I can tell you we are working constantly on this,” said Linda Campbell, executive director of the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry. “We are working on the timeline.”

She said investigators have been at the clinic going through records this week to find out how long the sedative was administered and whether proper protocol was followed.

Campbell said the Tulsa Police Department is working with the board’s investigators on the case.
“Certainly one death is too many, but we are looking at this to ensure there is clear and convincing evidence” regarding any potential wrongdoing, she said.

The primary dentist at the clinic is listed on the group’s website as Dr. Charles Keithline, a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and a diplomate of the board.

Keithline’s attorney, Keith Sweet of Oklahoma City, said the dentist could not comment about the patient, citing patient privacy laws. Campbell said an associate of Keithline’s performed the procedure.

Only seven people in Oklahoma are known to have died after being sedated at a dentist’s office, she said. Many were ruled natural deaths after investigations because the patients were found to have had pre-existing medical conditions, such as heart disease or asthma.

Before Akasmse’s death, the last death linked to sedation at a dental office was that of a 6-year-old boy in Muskogee six years ago, Campbell said.

In that case, the investigation found that a pharmacy erred by providing the patient a lethal dose of methadone instead of the prescribed sedative, she said. The dentist was exonerated.
According to the American Dental Association, the use of sedation and general anesthesia has been an integral part of dental practice since the 1840s.

If properly administered by trained personnel, sedation and general anesthesia are safe and effective, allowing millions of people access to comprehensive dental care who otherwise would not get it, the ADA says.

The ADA sets guidelines for the industry regarding the use of sedation and offers continuing education on proper monitoring and airway management during the use of general anesthesia.
Officials with the Oklahoma Dental Association would not comment.

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=17&articleid=20100820_11_0_TheTul956938

The child was having some restorations done and crowns put on her deciduous teeth, according to Linda Campbell, executive director of the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry.
**********

Update Sept. 2, 2010

One story coming from the community is that Dr. Charles Keithline is charging the child's stepmother with causing the death of this child.  He is saying she left his office and drove the child around in a hot car for three house.  Of course Dr. Charles Keithline isn't planning on taking any responsibility. 
Just because a child has an underlying medical condition does NOT mean the child died of "Natural Causes" and the dentist is off the hook.

It's clear this is what has happened as the article mentions the number of deaths in Oklahoma and all were ruled "natural deaths" because of other health issues. How in the hell does this let the dentist off the hook?

And screw the AAPD or ADA guidelines and comments.  Remember they are the ones who sent out the "talking points" memo after deaths earlier this year to cover their (and their colleagues) asses!

I'm having big issues with this DOCS (Dental Organization For Conscious Sedation) Company, based in Seattle who delivering these "drive-thru" classes for dentists.  They advertise and have testimonials from dentists who talk about how offering Conscious Sedation is another tool to increase their profits! 

Related Articles:

Five Year Old David Liddell Death July 12, 2010

Deaths In Dental Chair On The Rise

Dead Children In Dental Chair Preventable? Talking Points Memo From AAPD

The aftermath of yesterday’s post, that was supposed to be in your face shocking, has generated some of the longest emails I’ve received in a long time.  All from people who are frustrated nothing is being done to stop these needless deaths.  Some believe there is a cover-up by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.  Probably more like "turn that light off", don't shine it over this way.   Many expect the number to rise because of the Medicaid dental mills spreading faster than I can list them across the US. 

The carelessness that caused these deaths happens in just about every operatory room all day every day, with each child that is separated from their parent and taken back to that dreaded room and the dreaded papoose board.