.png?width=1200&auto=webp&trim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0)
A Texas pediatric dentist was arrested Wednesday, months after a 4-year-old girl died following a potentially unnecessary dental procedure that investigators say involved a toxic dose of sedatives, according to reports.
Dr. Chrishelle Hemphill, 48, was arrested in connection with the April death of the young patient, identified in the arrest warrant as Aithana Rodriguez Arriaga, at Cuddle Kids Dental in Fort Worth, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She has been charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, after investigators determined she was responsible for the girl's injuries, according to the Fort Worth Police Department.
Rodriguez Arriaga underwent a frenectomy, better known as a tongue-tie procedure, on April 1 but never regained consciousness afterward, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by Fox 5 News Dallas-Fort Worth. She was taken to a hospital, where she later died.
A frenectomy is a minor, common procedure that loosens a tight piece of tissue under the tongue or inside the lip. It's often done to treat a tongue-tie or lip-tie, helping babies feed more easily and improving speech and oral development as a child grows.
The girl's family sought treatment after a preschool teacher suggested she might have a tongue-tie because she had trouble pronouncing certain letters, according to the Star-Telegram. A relative took Rodriguez Arriaga to Cuddle Kids Dental Care, where Hemphill recommended a frenectomy to release the tissue under the tongue.
However, investigators later found that both the girl's paediatrician and an ear, nose and throat specialist had previously determined that she did not have a tongue-tie, the Star-Telegram reports.
A medical examination determined Rodriguez Arriaga had a toxic level of the opioid pain medication meperidine, also known by the brand name Demerol, in her system, Fox 5 reports. Investigators ruled the death an accident, the outlet adds.
Hemphill is accused of administering sedative medications before the procedure, Fox 5 News Dallas-Fort Worth reports. During efforts to revive the child, staff reportedly administered flumazenil, a medication used to reverse the effects of benzodiazepines.
However, investigators said that meperidine is an opioid and would instead require naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, to reverse its effects, the Star-Telegram reports. Hemphill could not show investigators where Narcan was stored at the practice when they executed a search warrant, the docs rgeportedly state, the outlet adds.
If convicted, Hemphill faces two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
The Independent has contacted Cuddle Kids Dental Care for comment.
A GoFundMe has been created to help Rodriguez Arriaga’s parents cover her funeral expenses and bring her home to Mexico.
As of Thursday morning, it has raised over $11,000 towards a goal of $13,000.
“She was sweet, loving and touched the lives of all who knew her,” fundraiser creator Jessica Davila remembered Rodriguez Arriaga on the site.
