A 4-year-old Vancouver boy died Friday after complications from a dental procedure.
Mykel Wayne Peterson went to a routine dental visit at Must Love Kids Pediatric Dentistry, 601 S.E. 117th Ave., and his dentist suggested a repair to previous treatment. But there were complications with the procedure, according to an online donation page set up for Mykel’s family.
The boy was put to sleep by an anesthesiologist and later brought out to the waiting room, Mykel’s mother told KATU News, a news partner of The Columbian.
Mykel was breathing at the time, but his mother was worried that he’d been unconscious for too long. When she asked the doctors if anything had gone wrong, the anesthesiologist admitted to giving Mykel “a bit” more anesthetic, the news station reported.
Mykel stopped breathing and was rushed to a hospital, KATU reported. Mykel’s mom said the boy was developmentally delayed but had no health problems to speak of prior to his death, according to KATU.
Emergency personnel were called to the dentist just before noon Friday and transported Mykel to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office released Mykel’s name and said the cause and manner of his death are still under investigation.
Must Love Kids Pediatric Dentistry, run by husband and wife team, Drs. Prashant and Monisha Gagneja and Dr. Chelsea Zamudio, was unexpectedly closed Monday. A notice to patients was posted on the door.
The dentist office released a statement about the incident on its website shortly before 4 p.m. Monday.
“As dentists and staff devoted exclusively to the needs of children, all of us at Must Love Kids Pediatric Dentistry are heartbroken and devastated by this event. We ask the community to join us in thoughts and prayers for the family,” the statement reads. “As to the specifics, outside medical experts will review what happened, so it would be premature to comment.”
The dentist office said that there are procedures in which the use of general anesthesia is necessary.
“We have performed dentistry for pediatric patients under deep sedation and general anesthesia more than 1,900 times without incident in the last 3½ years in Vancouver,” the statement reads.
The clinic says it contracts with an independent, board-certified anesthesiologist for services and follows “strict protocols, including a pre-operative checkup and clearance by the child’s primary physician prior to the procedure.”
The Washington State Department of Health received a “serious reportable event” complaint regarding the incident Monday, said Dave Johnson, a department spokesman. The required reports are typically filed by someone within the medical field, such as a health care provider, he said.
It’s unclear who filed the report on this incident.
The report will go to the state medical commission, which will review the report and determine whether or not to launch an investigation, Johnson said. There is no time table for when that decision will be made; it could be days or weeks, he said.
Additional details about the report were not available Monday.
Mykel is described on the donation page as a happy, loving, energetic and smart boy who had a fervent and sincere love for his family.
“He will be forever loved for the way that he selflessly loved them and for the memories he left,” the donation page states. “He was loved by all and will be truly missed.”
Those interested in donating to Mykel’s family can do so at www.gofundme.com/mykel-wayne-peterson-gone-to-soon.
