A Florida woman is suing a Winter Park dentist for dropping a medical screwdriver and a torque wrench down her father’s throat. In Anne Greer’s dental malpractice lawsuit, she alleges that Dr. Wesley Meyer’s negligence contributed to Charles Gaal’s death.
Gaal had gone to Meyers in October 2006 for implants to secure his dentures when the dentist accidentally dropped the screwdriver down the 90-year-old patient’s throat. Gaal had to undergo a colonoscopy so the screwdriver could be extricated from his large intestine.
Gaal returned to Meyers in May 2007 for the implant procedure. This time, Meyer’s dropped a torque wrench down the elderly man’s throat. Meyers underwent surgery to remove the tool, which had aspirated into his left lung. Gaal spent 50 days in the hospital as a result of the accident and died from complications in June 2007.
Greer says that her father died because Meyer caused his death. She says she has problems sleeping because of the tragedy.
After conducting an investigation, the Florida Department of Health filed a complaint accusing Meyers of negligence, failing to provide Gaal the required standard of care, negligent recordkeeping, and failure to report the accident.
Meyers, who reached a settlement with the Board of Dentistry, was told not to perform any more implants until he receives further training. He continues to practice dentistry.
Common Kinds of Dental Malpractice Accidents include:
• Giving a patient defective oral device.
• Surgical errors.
• Failure to consider patient’s medical history before performing a procedure.
• Failure to diagnose periodontal disease.
• Failure to diagnose oral cancer.
• Tooth extraction-related errors.
• Anesthesia complications.
Please contact our Florida dental malpractice law firm if you or someone you love was hurt because a dentist or another medical provider was negligent.
State fines dentist $17,000 in patient’s death, Orlando Sentinel, June 20, 2008
Dentist Accused Of Losing Tools Down Patient’s Throat Before Death, WKMG, June 20, 2008
Dental Malpractice Cases: Should You Consult an Attorney?, Associated Content
Related Web Resource:
Complaints About Dental Care, DentalWatch.org
Halberg & Fogg PLLC has law offices in Miami, West Palm Beach, and Port St. Lucie, Florida.