Two patients died after going to dentist who just lost her license, NC officials say
A North Carolina dentist has lost her license after two patients were hospitalized and died following visits, state officials said.
The North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners revoked Shawana Patterson’s license to practice dentistry, as well as her general anesthesia permit, according to a board document.
The decision was reached after a patient died following a Nov. 9, 2017 visit, and another patient died following a procedure at Patterson’s High Point office on March 28, 2018, according to the board. Patterson’s use of anesthesia was a factor in both deaths, the document said.
Messages left with Patterson seeking comment were not immediately returned.
The first patient, who died on Feb. 11, 2018, was identified as “RG” by the board.
Although RG filled out a health history form that indicated he had high-blood pressure, a heart attack, a pacemaker, diabetes, bronchitis and more, Patterson admitted she did not request medical records from his primary care doctor, according to the board.
The board said that RG was “an inappropriate candidate for anything but an emergency surgical procedure,” and for “any anesthesia outside of a hospital,” according to the document.
Patterson began to perform surgery on RG, and administered anesthesia, all without an assistant to monitor the patient’s condition, the board said. The amount of anesthesia Patterson used was “excessive” and caused RG’s blood pressure to drop, denying sufficient amounts of blood and oxygen to “his vital organs, including the brain,” for “an extended period of time,” according to the document.
An assistant testified that RG “was turning bluish-gray,” but Patterson dismissed those concerns, before RG became unresponsive, the board said. EMS was called and RG was taken to an area hospital where it was determined he suffered brain damage, according to the document.
A doctor at the hospital who treated RG testified that Patterson’s actions “caused or contributed to” the patient’s “ultimate death,” according to the board.
The second patient, identified as DM, went to Patterson to have teeth pulled, the board document said.
Her situation was similar to RG’s, in that she filled out a health history form that indicated she had kidney troubles, high blood pressure, diabetes and more, in addition to a “visible dialysis catheter,” according to the document. Again, Patterson did not request medical records from the patient’s primary care doctor, and proceeded with surgery and anesthesia, the board said.
DM’s hospital records showed she was “an inappropriate candidate for anything but an emergency surgical procedure,” and for “any anesthesia outside of a hospital,” according to the document.
Although data showed it was “very dangerous,” Patterson administered general anesthesia to DM, the board said.
Again, the amount of drugs administered by Patterson were deemed “excessive” by the board, which said DM suffered cardiac arrest, according to the document.
When Patterson realized her patient had deteriorating vital signs, “she used basic life support measures ... but no advanced cardiac life support protocols,” and did not contact EMS until DM “had no pulse,” the board said.
After being taken to an area hospital, DM lost brain function, went into cardiac arrest and died, according to the document.
A doctor at the hospital who treated DM testified that Patterson’s actions “caused or contributed to” the patient’s “ultimate death,” according to the board.
The board said Patterson did not make any changes after RG’s death and that she “acted carelessly and in reckless disregard for the safety and well-being of her patients,” according to the document.
Patterson is a Howard University College of Medicine alum, according to vitals.com, where she had one review which was bad.
This story was originally published April 8, 2019 at 5:57 PM.
