The North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners concluded its investigation into the death of a toddler, finding that no dental procedures had begun when the 2-year-old had a medical emergency, according to a story published on October 1 on Fox 8.
On September 30, the dental board announced that it determined that dentists and other staff had not started any procedures on Er’mias Mitchell, 2, when he had a medical emergency on July 17 at Valleygate Dental Surgery Center in Greensboro, NC, and later died.
Also, the board determined that no dentist or other dental staff administered anesthesia or sedation to the child. Those services were provided by other licensed medical providers, according to the story.
Furthermore, the board stated that other agencies may continue to investigate these other medical providers and that the medical examiner has not issued its report on the matter, including the toddler’s cause of death.
Parents of Er'Mias Mitchell reportedly had been told that the child’s lung collapsed during the procedure. The parents purportedly learned of his condition after he was being transported to the hospital. Er’Mias died before his parents reached him at the hospital.
In September, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ordered Valleygate to close several of its rooms due to compliance issues, including having no emergency call buttons installed, according to multiple news stories.
The state issued a cease and desist letter to Valleygate after an inspection revealed serious problems with its $2 million renovation project. The renovations were wrapping up at the practice at the time of Er’Mias’ death. However, it is not clear whether the renovations would have affected the toddler’s operation or whether he was receiving treatment in any of the now-shuttered rooms, according to the stories.
Following the inspection, the state ordered that Valleygate close its three new procedure rooms and three new recovery bays until 23 compliance problems were addressed. Serious problems included leaks in the vacuum system, which the state found while testing the medical gas alarm panel, no emergency call buttons, as well as wiring issues and building code violations, according to the stories.
The closures only apply to the renovated areas of Valleygate Dental Surgery Center. The practice’s original operating rooms and a procedure room remain open and operational.
On September 30, the state HHS sent Valleygate a letter outlining its findings from an inspection completed the prior week. The letter explained what adjustments the center needed to complete to make their renovated rooms fully operational. Once completed, the state will reinspect the rooms, according to the story.
