Parents’ anger as dentists stayed open for months after girl, 4, died during routine procedure

Four-year-old Aithana Arriaga died following a frenectomy carried out at Cuddle Kids Dental Care in Fort Worth, Texas (Picture: Google Maps) Parents were left demanding answers after a pediatric dental office remained open for more than three months following a four-year-old girl’s death during a ‘routine procedure’. Aithana Arriaga died after visiting Cuddle Kids Dental Care in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 1, following a tongue-tie procedure known as a frenectomy. The business continued operating for 15 weeks until Dr Chrishelle Hemphill was arrested on July 15, charged with reckless injury to a child. A sign on the front door of the practice confirmed the surgery is closed, Fox News reports. Speaking to the publication, Hevan Pittman said he had unknowingly taken his daughter to Dr Hemphill for the same procedure following Arriaga’s death. ‘No one told me anything about what happened five days before I had my daughter in there for a procedure,’ he said. Two months later, Pittman’s sister, Cheyenne Mahana, took her four-year-old daughter to Dr Hemphill for the same lip tie procedure. ‘If something like that happens, they should not be allowed to still be practicing,’ she said. A dentist at the practice has been charged (Picture: Google Maps) Authorities allege Hemphill used meperidine, also known as Demerol, along with nitrous oxide and two other medications during Arriaga’s frenectomy on April 1. Arriaga didn’t wake up following the procedure, with Hemphill and a second dentist attempting CPR until medics arrived. The child was transported to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. NBC reports that the child’s mother claims she was not allowed to be in the room during the procedure and that when she was allowed in, she alleged Hemphill placed an ice lolly on the girl’s lips trying to wake her. A medical examiner reportedly determined that Arriaga had died from meperidine toxicity, with a doctor telling a detective that the dosage of the drug found in the child’s system would be toxic for an adult. The affidavit, as reported by People, states: ‘About 200 to 500 ng/mL of meperidine in a person’s system is typically therapeutic for an adult. The amount found in the victim was 793 ng/mL.’ It adds that Arriaga was also administered flumazenil in an attempt to resuscitate her. The affidavit continues that a board-certified anaesthesiologist who specializes in dental paediatrics told a detective that Aithana needed Narcan ‘to reverse the respiratory depressant effects of the opioid. Instead, they gave flumazenil (which reverses drugs she wasn’t given) and didn’t administer Narcan till much later in the hospital.’ The detective said: ‘Throughout this investigation I have learned from Hemphill’s own statements, her staff’s statements and from medical professionals that there was evident neglect on Hemphill’s part that led to Aithana’s death.’ They went on to say that the young girl’s respiratory distress went unnoticed, and when it was noticed, improper life-saving practices were carried out. In a statement given to NBC, Hemphill’s attorney, Michael P. Heiskell, said: ‘This is a heartbreaking tragedy and our condolences are with the family. At the same time, allegations contained in an affidavit are not proof. ‘As a reminder, Dr. Hemphill is presumed innocent and we intend to hold the government to its burden of proof as the facts are tested in the courtroom and not in the press. ‘In the meantime, my team and I are in the midst of conducting a thorough review of the available evidence and will make any additional public comment as necessary when that process is completed.’ Arrow MORE: Man arrested after shot fired in ‘disturbing’ incident outside mosque Arrow MORE: Mum and paedophile boyfriend jailed for life for murdering her two-year-old daughter Arrow MORE: Donald Trump dealt major blow in $10,000,000,000 BBC lawsuit Breaking News Never miss the biggest stories with breaking news alerts in your inbox.