After eight years - Judgment expected in trial over death after dental treatment
After the death of a young patient, the judgment is expected in the Hamburg trial against the dentist and the anesthesist today (12:00 PM). The 67-year-old anesthesist is supposedly supposed to be sentenced, according to the indictment, to a probationary sentence of one year and six months for involuntary manslaughter. The 46-year-old dentist admitted to negligent homicide and is supposed to receive a fine of 50 installments of 250 Euro each, as demanded by the indictment.
The two doctors treated an 18-year-old man on May 27, 2016. The young man had numerous broken teeth and severe pain, but enormous fear of the treatment. He went to a dental practice in Altona with his mother and wanted a full anesthesia for the treatment. During the multiple-hour appointment, there was a cardio-circulatory failure. Shortly thereafter, the young man died in a hospital.
The defendants deeply regret the death of the patient.
The indictment accuses the two doctors of not properly informing the 18-year-old about all risks and the type of anesthesia monitoring. The improper anesthesia management allegedly led to the cardio-circulatory failure. This was supposedly misunderstood by the anesthesist. The rescue services were supposedly called too late.
The defense of the anesthesist requested a probationary sentence for their client for negligent homicide. The defense of the dentist demanded an acquittal.
At the beginning of the trial on April 4, the doctors deeply regretted the patient's death. The anesthesist admitted errors. The dentist believed she had fulfilled her duty of care.
- The defense team for the anesthesist argued that their client should serve a probationary sentence for causing the patient's body harm due to negligent anesthesia management during the dental procedure.
- Throughout the court process, both doctors repeatedly expressed their deep regret for the harm that resulted in the patient's unfortunate death during their dental treatment in Hamburg.
- The young patient, who had a fear of dentistry, willingly attended the dental practice in Altona for the multiple-hour appointment to alleviate his severe dental pain and broken teeth, which eventually led to his health complications and eventual death.
