David Culver of WAVY 10 TV reports on the deadly dangers at the dentist office. Full piece to air on Monday, May 14, 2012 starting at 5:00 PM. Please watch and share.
Showing posts with label Jenny Olenick Death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jenny Olenick Death. Show all posts
Monday, May 14, 2012
What a waste of 1042 words about a precious child–Amazing of how the victim remains on trail and never the Dental Boards or the dentist at fault.
On May 5, 2012 Kevin Rector of the Baltimore Sun devoted 1042 words to an article questioning the mental and emotional health of Jenny Olenick who died April 6, 2011during a sedation procedure to extract 4 3rd molars (wisdom teeth). Jenny was 17 years old. One has to wonder who actually wanted that many words devoted to this case, it certainly wasn’t Jenny’s mom, Cathy Garger. I doubt the writer was actually monitoring the civil case in the courts, so who handed over this piece to Rector? I doubt it was an idea from the bankrupt media conglomerate Tribune newspapers, which is the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, WGN TV and others. Whoever it was, should have thought more about it and made another choice. Below is the link to the article.
By Kevin Rector, krector@tribune.com May 3, 2012
Lawyers question Olenick's health prior to surgery death
I’ve spoken with Cathy and the article from Mr. Rector cut her to the core.
Thank goodness someone in Cathy’s community spoke up and thank goodness the Baltimore Sun published the “Letter to the Editor”.
Letter to the Editor:
Lawyer's assertions in dental death lawsuit 'ridiculous and insulting'
May 13, 2012 | 2:22 p.m.
My heart goes out to the family of Jenny Olenick, who by all accounts was a talented and wonderful teen. The May 5 article detailing events surrounding the filing of a malpractice suit, "Lawyers question teen's health before death," got my attention for several reasons.
To imply that pre-exiting conditions, such as stress, anxiety and heart disease would have contributed to or caused her death seem far-fetched. As reported in the article the autopsy report found "no evidence of a physical process, like cardiomyopathy having occurred," according to the state's chief medical examiner. Regarding the premise of "undisclosed medical conditions," the article states that Ms. Olenick had a medical evaluation and was "cleared" for anesthesia and surgery.
Friday, April 06, 2012
Scary–On the one year anniversary of Jenny Olenick’s death, anesthesia dentistry is on the rise.
On the one year anniversary of Jenny Olenick’s death, Medscape posted, what I refer to as “Anesthesia Media Blitz II”. Since early March, the AAPD and other associations have released various press releases promoting putting children to sleep to perform dental procedures. The Medscape article is the second round. Medscape could have posted a story on the hazards of such practices, but didn’t. I’m not saying it was on purposely, however, I’ve learned seldom are stories published without reason.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
April 6, 2012 — Pediatric dentists cannot find enough dentist anesthesiologists to meet the needs of their patients, according to a survey of pediatric dentists published in the spring 2012 issue of Anesthesia Progress.
The survey responses differed somewhat by region, sex, and years in the specialty, with 20% to 40% of participants saying they currently use a dental anesthesiologist and 60% to 70% saying they would use one if one were available.
The demand for dentist anesthesiologists has been increasing in recent years in pediatric dentistry, according to a separate survey of dental anesthesiology program directors published in the same journal.
"The trend in the past has been that many dentists provided [both] anesthesia and dental care," coauthor James Jones, DDS, chair of pediatric dentistry at Indiana University in Indianapolis, told Medscape Medical News.
Now, many pediatric dentists would prefer to concentrate on the dentistry while someone else focuses on anesthesia, he said. "We're realizing that it's a safety issue."
Dr. Jones said researchers at the university had become aware of the need for anesthesia in their patients because they provide service to a lot of low-income patients who need extensive dental work of the type that often requires general anesthesia.
To see what other pedodontists were experiencing, they sent out emails to all 2586 active board-certified pediatric dentists who are members of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and who made their email addresses available, asking them to participate in an online survey.
The messages bounced back from 659 of these, leaving 1927, of whom 494 completed the survey.
Participants disclosed their sex, age, years in practice, region, number of years as a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, use of in-office sedation, and use of intravenous (IV) sedation. They also commented on their use of a dentist anesthesiologist.
The respondents differed in their use of anesthesiology by demographics. Thirty-nine percent of women answered "yes" to the question, "Do you use the services of a dentist anesthesiologist?" compared with 23% of men, which is a statistically significant difference (P < .01).
Only 12% of those in practice for longer than 21 years used IV sedation in their office, and only 25% of this group used dentist anesthesiologists (P < .01). Although only 53% of this group answered "yes" to the question, "Would you use the services of a dentist anesthesiologist, if available?" this percentage was not statistically significant compared with dentists who have been in practice for fewer years.
In contrast, 30% of those in practice for 5 years or fewer used in-office IV sedation, 38% used dentist anesthesiologists, and 74% would use dentist anesthesiologists if they could (P < .01).
Group practices were least likely to administer in-office sedation; solo practices were the most likely.
Practices in the Southwest were most likely to use in-office sedation. Westerners were most likely to administer in-office IV, employ dentist anesthesiologists, and use dentist anesthesiologists if they could.
Dental Anesthesiologists Address Many Needs
Dr. Jones said the finding points to a need for more training programs for dentist anesthesiologists. "I think the demand is going to increase over time," he said.
He pointed out that bringing an anesthesiologist into the office is half as expensive as taking the patient to a hospital or day-surgery center for anesthesia.
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Spokesman John Liu, DDS, agreed, noting that hospitals and surgery centers charge for the use of their facilities.
Dr. Liu, a clinical assistant professor of dentistry at the University of Washington in Seattle, told Medscape Medical News that pediatric dentists are in greater need of help from dentist anesthesiologists for several reasons.
First, more children are being diagnosed with behavior-related conditions such as autism and attention deficit disorder, he said.
Second, fewer parents are comfortable with having their children physically restrained through frightening and sometimes painful treatments. "The reality is that it's not an easy thing to sit through something like that," Dr. Liu, who has a private practice in Issaquah, Washington, told Medscape Medical News.
Dr. Liu also said that some state dental boards prohibit dentists from providing general anesthesia or deep sedation, even if they have completed residency programs in anesthesiology, and he thinks these regulations should be changed.
"I find it tremendously helpful to have a dental anesthesiologist, as opposed to an MD anesthesiologist, because he knows exactly what I'm doing and when I'm going to be done," said Dr. Liu. "I have used a dental anesthesiologist for more than 20 years, and I don't know how anybody manages without one."
Dr. Liu and Dr. Jones have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Anesth Prog. 2012;59:12-17. Full text
Friday, December 16, 2011
Fox News report on Jenny Olenick’s parents suing dentist after her death. Jenny died in 2011
There have been 24 pediatric deaths related to complications due to dental procedures in the past seven years. This number accounts only for reported pediatric deaths. Shockingly, of the 24 pediatric deaths occurring within the seven year period, 11 have been within the last 21 months. 52% of the deaths have occurred since April of 2010! What once may have been viewed as a rarity has clearly become an epidemic. Wake-up Dr. Milton Houpt!
If you add the adult deaths, the numbers skyrocket. If we knew the exact number of pediatric deaths and adult deaths I think everyone would be is shock! Many are unreported as taking place during dental procedures. Just last week I heard from a person whose friend’s husband had died in Florida just a few months ago during a dental procedure. She said the man had been dead for 15 minutes before the dental assistant brought it to his attention. This never saw the pages of a news paper or a spot on the evening news. There are hundreds more of these same kind of stories. Mr. Milton Houpt ,the ADA and the AAPD do NOT want the true numbers told, it’s a $3 billion dollar a year industry!
Here is a memo sent out by the AAPD after the death of Jacobi Hill in Richmond, Virginia in 2010.
Nor does the DOCS Education program; a drive thru; weekend; three day seminar to teach dentist the fine art of sedation. Used to help general dentists increase services and revenue streams. A very dangerous one at that!
Someone has suggested it’s only a coincidence that the major dental agencies that set the standards and shape state rules and regulations are all located at the same address in Chicago: 211 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
American Student Dental Association
American College of Prosthodontists
American Association of Endodontists
and…drum roll please…..
Just a coincidence?
The ADA owns the building and simply leases it to other organizations, no conspiracy?
I say Hogwash!!
The Raven Maria Blanco Foundation helps parents whose children have died during dental treatment
The Raven Maria Blanco Foundation (RMBF)was established after 8 year old Raven Blanco died during sedation dentistry. The foundation is committed to educating parents and professional of the risks that lead to these deaths as well as safety measures that can easily be taken to reduce such risks. The Raven Maria Blanco Foundation travels as funds will allow to dental conventions across the nation where they set up their booth to promote safety and educated the dental community. They are not always met with open arms. Here is a public service announcement from 2010
Here are the names of 39 children who have died in recent years.
I met with Nicole, Raven’s cousin and Director of the RMBF, and Mario, Raven’s father, and have to say they are some of the loveliest people you will ever meet. They truly are committed to their cause. Sadly it has been falling on many a deaf ear, but that has not deterred them for one minute. They work tirelessly and are never to busy to help. I am proud to know such wonderful and selfless people.
The RMBF provides much needed support for parents who have suffered the pain of death of their child. They assist in raising money to help pay for funeral expenses, including traveling to fundraisers when time allows. Other times it’s putting these parents in contact with each other to help each other for support.
The RMBF has a facebook page at http://facebook.com/rmbfinc
http://www.rmbfinc.org/
http://www.ravenblanco.com
RMBF, Inc.
PO BOX 65581
Virginia Beach, VA 23467
1-757-449-3565
Currently, they RMBF is seeking dontation to assist the family of Jermaine Lee Harrison, Jr who died during a dental procedure in Stockton, California on November 11, 2011.
You can make a donation by clicking here.
RMBF, INC. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.
.
Here are the names of 39 children who have died in recent years.
I met with Nicole, Raven’s cousin and Director of the RMBF, and Mario, Raven’s father, and have to say they are some of the loveliest people you will ever meet. They truly are committed to their cause. Sadly it has been falling on many a deaf ear, but that has not deterred them for one minute. They work tirelessly and are never to busy to help. I am proud to know such wonderful and selfless people.
The RMBF provides much needed support for parents who have suffered the pain of death of their child. They assist in raising money to help pay for funeral expenses, including traveling to fundraisers when time allows. Other times it’s putting these parents in contact with each other to help each other for support.
The RMBF has a facebook page at http://facebook.com/rmbfinc
http://www.rmbfinc.org/
http://www.ravenblanco.com
RMBF, Inc.
PO BOX 65581
Virginia Beach, VA 23467
1-757-449-3565
Currently, they RMBF is seeking dontation to assist the family of Jermaine Lee Harrison, Jr who died during a dental procedure in Stockton, California on November 11, 2011.
You can make a donation by clicking here.
RMBF, INC. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.
.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Jenny Olenick’s parents file suit over her death during dental surgery.
By Kevin Rector, krector@tribune.com
December 13, 2011 | 6:16 p.m.
The parents of a Woodstock teen who died 10 days after losing oxygen during a routine wisdom tooth surgery March 28 in Columbia are suing the anesthesiologist and the oral surgeon involved for medical malpractice, according to court records filed Nov. 30.
The civil suit, which also names three dental practices associated with the doctors, is the latest development in an unusual medical case that shocked the Marriotts Ridge High School community, where Jennifer "Jenny" Michelle Olenick was a smiley, 17-year-old junior involved in choir.
The suit claims that Dr. Krista Michelle Isaacs, the anesthesiologist, and Dr. Domenick Coletti, the oral surgeon, were negligent in their care of Olenick and failed to resuscitate her after her heart rate slowed to a "panic level" of 40 beats per minute and her body began losing oxygen.
The suit claims those failures led to Olenick not having a pulse when emergency responders arrived at Coletti's Columbia office, and that they directly allowed for the "massive and irreversible brain injury" that resulted in her death April 6.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Jenny Olenick died in April. Here is a statement sent to us from Jenny’s mother on May 14, 2011
"During the April 17 Celebration of Jenny's life I told the young people present not to worry about having dental procedures because Jenny's death was a freak accident.
That's what I truly thought at the time. But after learning there are at least 8 other children in the nation who have died as a result of dental procedures in US dental offices within the past 1 1/2 years, I no longer see this as a "freak" accident.
I now look at dental office-related deaths as relatively common, and believe these are needless deaths that could have been prevented.
These children did not have to die. And if we wish to honor these childrens' memories, we need to make certain not one more child dies as a result of having a procedure done in a dentist's office".
Cathy Garger, Mother of Jenny Olenick.
17 year old Jenny Olenick dead during oral surgery–April 6, 2011–Freak Accident? Not anymore!
(written Thursday May 12, 2011, prior to receiving the statement from Jenny’s mom. Blogger was down and was not able to post until today.)
Marriottsville, Maryland
Jennifer Michelle Olenick died April 6, 2010. Jenny went into a coma on March 28, 2011 during a wisdom tooth extraction being performed by Dr. Domenick Coletti.
When the dental community is averaging killing one child a month, it’s not a freak accident!
Answers sought in dental surgery death of Howard County teen
By Kellie Woodhouse kwoodhouse@patuxent.com
The state Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating the death of a 17-year-old Marriotts Ridge High School junior, who died last week after complications arose during routine wisdom tooth surgery.
Jennifer “Jenny” Michelle Olenick, of Woodstock, an aspiring professional singer, went to a Columbia oral surgeon on March 28 for a tooth extraction procedure and went into cardiac arrest during surgery, her mother said.
She was taken by ambulance to Howard County General Hospital and then flown to Johns Hopkins Hospital, in Baltimore, where she died 10 days later, on April 6.
Cathy Garger, Olenick’s mother, said her daughter’s sudden death was baffling.
“Her heart tests at Hopkins showed normal functioning of her heart. She was in the best of health,” said Garger, who accompanied her daughter to the surgery with Olenick’s father, John Olenick.
Dr. Domenick Coletti, the Columbia-based oral surgeon who performed the operation with the assistance of an anesthesiologist, said he was “deeply saddened” by Olenick’s death.
