Dental clinic medics are being accused of negligence after a five-year-old boy suffered acute organ failure and died just days after a botched tooth extraction.
Little Deniz Sonmez was rushed to a children’s hospital bleeding from his mouth and suffering from a fever after what was meant to be a routine dental surgery in Bursa, in north-western Turkey.
Grief-stricken dad Aydin Sonmez told local media: “My pain right now is indescribable.”
He added: “Let it be investigated to the fullest. A human life should not be this simple. Let those responsible get what they deserve.”
Aydin and his wife Elena took their son, who was their only child, to a private dental clinic with toothache on 10th November.
Medics had determined that one tooth had to be removed and four others operated on.
Deniz was put under general anaesthesia for the surgery. He started to bleed heavily in his mouth while his temperature soared following the operation.
However, carers reportedly told the parents that this was a normal reaction to the drugs.
Dad Aydin explained: “One tooth was extracted and four teeth were filled. After the procedure was completed, the anesthesiologist left. My wife waited for Deniz to wake up.”
When the boy came to his senses, he was in very poor condition, according to Aydin.
He said: “Deniz had a fever and he was shaking. My wife was told that this was a common reaction to the anaesthesia.”
The dentists reportedly rejected Elena’s appeal to call an ambulance. Instead, Deniz was simply discharged with a medication prescription.
But his condition deteriorated dramatically.
Aydin recalled: “When we were back home, Deniz was moaning in his bed. This was the first time I saw my son like this. He had peed his pants. Deniz had not peed his pants since he was one year old.”
Aydin and Elena decided to take their child to a children’s hospital immediately.
Doctors fought to save his life but Deniz was declared dead on 13th November, three days after the dental surgery.
The results of the forensic examination have not yet been released. However, local media reported on 14th November that multiple organ failure due to a post-surgery lack of oxygen supply had been determined through a CT scan as the cause of death.
The prosecutor’s office is investigating after his parents filed a complaint for negligence.
Additionally, the Provincial Health Directorate is looking into the matter.
Aydin explained: “Our intention is not to infringe on anyone’s rights or to blame anyone. But God sees everything. We were hurt.
“Deniz was such a healthy child. Until he was five years old, he had nothing but a cough. I left my son there with my own hands and this is the result.”
The heartbroken dad added: “We will wait for the autopsy results, but they say it is a very long process.
“I believe first in the justice of my Lord, then in the justice of the state.”
