According to documents, a California dentist who treated a 9-year-old girl hours before she died following a routine procedure was previously sentenced to probation for another procedure mishap.
In 2020, Dr. Ryan Watkins was disciplined for a 2016 incident in which a 54-year-old man’s heart stopped after Watkins administered anaesthesia during a dental procedure.
According to a complaint filed with the Dental Board of California, Watkins engaged in “unprofessional conduct” by “clearly excessively administering drugs or treatment” to the patient, identified only as “MK.”
The man had seen Watkins three times prior to the dental surgery and was said to be in “excellent health” and a triathlete.
However, the victim had a low resting heart rate, a dental phobia, and a history of fainting, which Watkins failed to investigate or document, according to the complaint.
According to the documents, the patient’s heart stopped during the surgery, prompting Watkins to perform CPR until EMS arrived.
Watkins performed chest compressions on the victim, which fractured his ribs, according to hospital staff. The man was later diagnosed with a mild neurocognitive disorder caused by a cardiac arrest, according to records.
“A doctor concluded that the administration of ephedrine likely caused MK’s tachycardia (increased heart rate above 100 bpm) that would have subsided and that the use of adenosine was unnecessary and caused MK’s heart to stop (asystole),” according to the records.
The California Dental Board placed Watkins on probation for 35 months, but allowed him to continue working at the practice as long as he met additional requirements and oversight.
According to the decision, Watkins was also ordered to pay more than $19,000 in investigative and prosecution costs.
Watkins confirmed the previous incident to Fox News Digital, stating that “emergency protocols were immediately activated” when the patient experienced cardiac arrhythmia during the procedure.
“Following this incident, regulatory proceedings were commenced. Throughout the process, we ensured that comprehensive safety protocols were followed, all medications were administered in accordance with manufacturer guidelines based on the patient’s age and weight, and the patient was continuously monitored,” Watkins said in a statement.
He added that “in an effort to resolve the matter and focus on patient care,” a settlement was reached without admitting any wrongdoing and probation orders were completed.
Watkins is still practicing at Dreamtime Dentistry and has stated that he was not responsible for 9-year-old Silvanna Moreno’s death and was unaware of her health problems.
“The coroner’s report showed her death to be an accident due to a pre-existing medical condition of which none of the parties were aware prior to the procedure,” Watkins explained in a statement.
“While the Medical Examiner has ruled this an accident, we take this outcome with the utmost seriousness,” according to the statement.
Watkins added that a thorough internal review of Moreno’s case is underway, and that they are consulting with leading dental anaesthesia experts to ensure patient safety is maintained.
“The safety and well-being of our patients will always be our top priority. “We are committed to learning from this tragic event and will implement any additional safety measures that may help prevent similar incidents in the future,” Watkins stated.
According to a previous statement obtained by Fox News Digital, Moreno was referred to the practice on March 18 for dental treatment under general anaesthesia “due to her young age and situational anxiety,” and was seen by Watkins.
According to Watkins, “the dosage administered was appropriate for the patient’s age and weight, following established medical protocols.”
“Any interactions or negative side effects were not due to dosage, but rather to her rare but undiagnosed/undetected medical condition,” Watkins explained in a statement to Fox News Digital.
An autopsy report from the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that her death was an accident caused by “methemoglobinemia in the setting of recent nitrous oxide administration.”
“We are profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of Silvanna Moreno, and our hearts continue to go out to her family during this incredibly difficult time,” Watkins told the crowd.
