Investigation launched into death of young woman after dental appointment

Article content

The Manitoba Dental Association (MDA) has launched an investigation after a young woman died last week, after having a medical emergency during a dentist appointment.

Article content

Article content

Article content

According to MDA, on Nov. 27, a medical emergency developed during a woman’s dentist appointment at a general practice dental office in Manitoba. The 23-year-old woman, who was from the Morden-Winkler area, was rushed to hospital by emergency workers where she later died.

“First and foremost our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of this young woman. We know it has been a shock to the community,” MDA president Dr. Daron Baxter said on Wednesday.

According to Baxter, MDA is now launching a full “fact finding” investigation, as they look to determine what led to the woman’s death.

“In the last few days we’ve initiated the investigatory process, and it’s a fact gathering time to obtain the information needed to fully understand the events, and how they may have contributed to the outcomes here,” Baxter said.

Article content

Article content

Baxter said she could give no details on what happened during the appointment or leading up to it, or on if the woman had any pre-exsisting health conditions that could have contributed to her death.

Baxter added she does not yet know how long the investigation will take, but says once it is complete MDA will consider next steps, and what information will be released to the public.

“We will gather information and how it pertains to the dental care and the emergency care and what occurred, and depending on those pieces we would go forward with our exsisting protocol and some of that it governed by our legislation, and anything that pertains to public domain and public protection we will have some follow up on that when we can release that information.”

Article content

Baxter says there is another component to the investigation because the woman was sent to hospital where she received medical treatment, and MDA will have to determine through the hospital and the woman’s family what info can and will be released pertaining to her time there.

“Some of this will be under the purview of hospital and family in terms of what can be released, so we are determining what info we have, and seeing what other pieces we need to understand to go forward,” she said.

According to Baxter, the dental office where the incident took place will remain open during the investigation.

“It is still open and running and continues to deliver care, and they continue to respect patient confidentiality, as well as protocols of the Manitoba Dental Association,” she said.

— Dave Baxter is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

Have thoughts on what’s going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.ca

Article content