Fort Worth police arrested a pediatric dentist Wednesday in connection with the April death of a 4-year-old girl who became unresponsive during a dental appointment.
Dr. Chrishelle Hemphill, 48, faces a charge of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, which the Fort Worth Police Department identified as a second-degree felony. Police arrested Hemphill on July 15 after obtaining a warrant.
An arrest warrant affidavit identifies the child as Aithana Rodriguez Arriaga. A relative brought Aithana to Cuddle Kids Dental Care at 5329 Sycamore School Road on April 1 for a frenectomy, an oral procedure used to treat a tongue-tie.
Aithana became unresponsive during the appointment. Fort Worth firefighters transported her to a local hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead.
Medical examiner cites meperidine toxicity
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Aithana died from meperidine toxicity and ruled the manner of death an accident, according to the affidavit.
Meperidine, also sold under the brand name Demerol, is an opioid pain medication that can cause serious or life-threatening breathing problems.
Investigators allege Hemphill gave Aithana meperidine along with two additional sedatives and nitrous oxide before the procedure.
The affidavit states that the medical examiner found 793 nanograms per milliliter of meperidine in Aithana’s blood. The medical examiner told investigators that the concentration would have been toxic even for an adult and indicated that the medication had been administered twice, according to the document.
Affidavit alleges monitoring and response failures
Investigators allege Hemphill failed to recognize signs that Aithana was experiencing respiratory distress and did not administer naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, to reverse the opioid’s effects.
Hemphill instead used an automated external defibrillator to check for a pulse and administered flumazenil, a medication used to reverse the effects of certain sedatives, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit states that Hemphill began chest compressions after finding Aithana unresponsive. A second dentist, who had been on a lunch break, took over CPR until emergency medical personnel arrived.
Medical experts consulted during the investigation identified failures in Aithana’s monitoring and the office’s emergency response after she lost consciousness, investigators alleged.
Police obtain arrest warrant
The Fort Worth Police Department’s Crimes Against Children Unit investigated the death. Police said investigators determined that an offense had occurred before obtaining the warrant for Hemphill’s arrest.
Hemphill has not been convicted, and the allegations in the arrest affidavit have not been proven in court.
NBC 5 reported that it contacted Cuddle Kids Dental Care but had not received a response.
Provided by Dallas Express
