Another Story of a tragic Child

[DVM gone riding]

www.cnn.com/2014/01/03/justice/hawaii-brain-damage-girl/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

"Finley's mother, Ashley Boyle, said she first took her daughter to the dentist in November, when she was told her daughter needed six fillings and four root canals, she said." ...Finley was moved from a hospital to a hospice in late December.
"She will probably not be with us much longer," Boyle said."

At least these parents seem to accept that their daughter's brain is nearly dead but a) how on earth does a 3 year old need root canals b) needing root canals if not in great pain who cares try to get her on the right tract to not need them on her permanent teeth. For god sacks she is THREE.

[mmhmm]

Oh, geeeze!  What a horrible mess that is!  I noticed the dental office responsible is now permanently closed.  I wonder why ... 

[justme]

Holy crap! Either the dentist was full of shit or the parents weren't properly taking care of their daughter! And either way I think I would have gotten a few opinions before I put a 3 year old through that.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Jan 3, 2014 21:42:36 GMT -5 justme said:

Holy crap! Either the dentist was full of shit or the parents weren't properly taking care of their daughter! And either way I think I would have gotten a few opinions before I put a 3 year old through that.

I would have too.....but sadly there ARE young kids that have teeth in that poor condition.  Going out in the dental van to head start programs and elementary schools was just heartbreaking.  It is hard to see that much damage in teeth so new.

[justme]

Jan 6, 2014 21:14:42 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Jan 3, 2014 21:42:36 GMT -5 justme said:

Holy crap! Either the dentist was full of shit or the parents weren't properly taking care of their daughter! And either way I think I would have gotten a few opinions before I put a 3 year old through that.

I would have too.....but sadly there ARE young kids that have teeth in that poor condition.  Going out in the dental van to head start programs and elementary schools was just heartbreaking.  It is hard to see that much damage in teeth so new.

Unfortunately it seems that's true, I didn't think teeth could be damaged that fast without gross negligence. But from the articles it seems that they didn't get a second opinion - the dentist told them what they needed and they returned a few weeks later to have it done.

At the very least, it doesn't seem like the office was well equipped to resuscitate someone if problems arose. I had to go under for a cyst in my jaw in 8th grade and my mom practically read the DMD the riot act about putting me under in their office (and not a hospital) until they gave her a tour of the equipment they have in case things go bad and that the Dr had admitting rights (or something, it was a while ago) at the hospital.

[Miss Tequila]

What surprised me the most when I read the article the other day is that the parents had already filed a lawsuit. So...they don't take care if her teeth, do no research in the dentist and then file suit while their daughter is near death? I just get a bad vibe from these parents.

That said, the doctor needs to be shut Dow

[the flying reindeer]

The cavities I could accept but root canals at age three

I have had poor teeth all my life because of genetics. Both my parents had "soft" teeth so I did too. I swear you could look at them wrong and they'd develop a cavity. By the time I was 20, I had to have partial plates and this was with brushing every day and going to the dentist every six months from whenever was the last visit. So the cavities I can understand. But not root canals.

Question: if the dentist's office is closed, does that mean he has skipped town and therefore the lawsuit is futile?

[Deleted]

How do you expect dentists to buy new boats if they don't do root canals on three year olds?

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Jan 6, 2014 21:48:33 GMT -5 the flying reindeer said:

The cavities I could accept but root canals at age three

I have had poor teeth all my life because of genetics. Both my parents had "soft" teeth so I did too. I swear you could look at them wrong and they'd develop a cavity. By the time I was 20, I had to have partial plates and this was with brushing every day and going to the dentist every six months from whenever was the last visit. So the cavities I can understand. But not root canals.

Question: if the dentist's office is closed, does that mean he has skipped town and therefore the lawsuit is futile?

Root canals happen when the cavity is deep enough that it infringes on the nerve.  And sadly, yes....I have seen them needing to be done on small children.

One little boy, maybe 5 came into our van once.  He had lost his top 6 front teeth and bottom front 6 teeth.  Even root canals could not salvage anything.  He lost them so young, that it was likely going to be another couple years before his permanent teeth started to come in.  Maybe a couple years earlier, root canals may have saved those teeth.

[achelois]

Numerous small children out there needing dental work. We do a lot at my hospital. Mostly going to bed with bottles of milk and soda or walking around with bottles long after they should have been given up.

We intubate them and monitor them, though. Does not sound like this dental office had an anesthesia provider in house.