A lawsuit has been filed by the family of a Washington state teenager who passed away during a standard wisdom tooth extraction. The legal action targets the oral surgeon responsible for the procedure and the clinic involved.
Mark and Sara Edge, parents of 17-year-old Erik Edge, filed a lawsuit against Dr. Mark McLelland on December 9, following a serious reaction their son had to general anesthesia that led to a blocked airway. According to the attorneys for the Edge family, McLelland was reportedly serving as both the surgeon and anesthesiologist and “failed to notice and properly respond.” The Edge family alleges medical malpractice and negligence.
The Luvera Law Firm, representing the Edge family, announced in a press release on its website that on June 24, the day of Erik’s procedure, the teenager’s “airway closed after anesthesia started, which is a common side effect of the type of anesthesia used.” An anesthesiologist typically monitors the patient’s vital signs closely and can quickly identify if the airway has closed, allowing for prompt action to maintain an open and clear airway.
The lawsuit claims that McLelland was reportedly serving as both the surgeon and anesthesiologist to “maximize profitability,” according to the attorneys. The lawsuit claimed that the purpose was “to charge and gather higher fees for providing both services.”
Attorneys indicated that McLelland failed to recognize that Erik’s airway was obstructed “for several minutes.” The lawyers argued that McLelland’s decision to take on dual roles led to the surgeon and the clinic’s team being “[un]prepared to deliver critical care and failing to respond appropriately.”
A local Spokane newspaper, The Spokesman-Review, reported that McLelland was licensed to practice dentistry and had an updated general anesthesia permit from the past year.