A Texas dentist is facing charges over three months after the death of a 4-year-old patient during a dental procedure, as reported by the Fort Worth Police Department.
On April 1, Aithana Rodríguez-Arriaga underwent a dental procedure at Cuddle Kids Dental Care on Sycamore School Rd. The procedure aimed to address a minor issue of being tongue-tied.
Unfortunately, the procedure did not go as planned, and Aithana became unresponsive. Despite immediate transportation to a local hospital, she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Dr. Chrishelle Hemphill, aged 48, was arrested and charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily harm, a second-degree felony, according to law enforcement.
Detective J. Spragins stated that neglect on Hemphill’s part was evident from her own statements, staff statements, and medical professionals, leading to Aithana’s tragic death.
An autopsy revealed that Aithana died from meperidine (Demerol) toxicity, ruled as an accidental death. The child had 793 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) of meperidine in her system, an opioid used as a preoperative medication.
The medical examiner highlighted that the dosage given to the child could have been toxic and potentially lethal to an adult, as per the FDA’s recommendations.
Hemphill is accused of administering meperidine and other sedatives to the child before the procedure, failing to monitor her during the treatment, and neglecting to provide emergency care when she became unresponsive. She was released on a $10,000 bond and could face up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted.
The Fort Worth Police Department’s Crimes Against Children Unit conducted an investigation leading to Hemphill’s arrest. A GoFundMe page was created by the child’s mother in memory of Aithana, describing her as a vibrant and kind 4-year-old girl who brought joy to everyone around her.
You can contribute to the GoFundMe page by visiting the link provided.