DEATH AFTER TOOTH EXTRACTION

Evening Star, Issue 21631, 29 January 1934, Page 9

DEATH AFTER TOOTH EXTRACTION

DENTIST AND DOCTOR EXONERATED [Per United Press Association.] TAUMARANUI, January 29. At the inquest concerning the death of Jessie Isabel Flett, aged fifteen, whocollapsed and died on Friday when re- • covering from an anaesthetic after hav- # ing teeth extracted, G. H. Burtenshaw, / dentist, gave evidence that after the extraction of teeth the patient showed a good recovery. Doctor W. E. Fisher, who administered the anaesthetic, left the dental rooms. About eight, minutes after the doctor left the deceased’s breathing weakened and she showed signs of collapse. The usual restorative measures were applied, and the doctor was' recalled. Dr Fisher arrived in % few minutes, but though artificial respiration was carried on for an hour the girl failed to recover. Dr Fisher gave evidence that he examined the girl carefully before the ansesthetio was administered, and she appeared well arid ' unperturbed. She took the anaesthetic well, and was recovering well when he left to attend to another case.

Dr E. H. Howard and Dr ’Anthony Bradford testified that a post mortem revealed that the deceased had a definite enlargement of the thymus gland, a condition which, in a girl of her age, could not-' possibly have been determined by external examination. In the case of a young adult in this condition, there was always a danger of sudden death under an anaesthetic.

The coroner (Mr A. S. Laird) returned a verdict that death was puro misadventure due to heart failure associated with the presence of an enlarged thymus gland, _ the doctor and dentist concerned having taken every care and precaution.