Search Here

An oral surgeon from Eden Prairie was sued for his negligent and dangerous actions after a teenager died during a routine wisdom tooth extraction. The surgeon was suspended by The Board of Dentistry for failing to monitor the teen's vital signs after giving general anesthesia.

17-year-old Sydney Gallager's family sued oral surgeon Dr. Paul Tompach for malpractice. Tompach failed to provide adequate medical care to Sydney who was placed under general anesthesia. The family filed the lawsuit this week in Hennepin County District Court.

After placing the patient on general anesthesia, proper protocol would have been to check the vital signs. Blood pressure, pulse, cell oxygenation levels, and carbon dioxide levels, must be closely monitored by a person with proper medical training. But Tompach entrusted the task to an employee who was not experienced or trained to perform the tasks.

Court documents stated that during extraction surgery, Sydney's blood pressure went up and her pulse began to plunge. After a few seconds, the teenager went into cardiac arrest. She was later pronounced dead at the Children's Hospital.

A month after her death her family filed a lawsuit against Dr. Tompach. He was accused of gross negligence, due to incorrect administration of general anesthesia, failure to use appropriate medical equipment and provide proper monitoring.

The other charges include having untrained, unqualified dental assistants to operate specialized medical equipment and monitor the patient during the wisdom tooth extraction surgery, lax planning during emergency, poor response to patient going into cardiac arrest and failing to inform parents about risk of general anesthesia.

Mirror Daily reported, the Gallager family requested $50,000 for damages to cover funeral, medical and judicial expenses. They are considering asking for punitive damages which is still unclear if the court will settle the request.

According to Star Tribune, Tompach continued to see patients under state licensing board restrictions after the death of Sydney in June 2015. He was later put under indefinite restriction in March 2016.

Eden Prairie's oral surgeon Dr. Paul Tompach was suspended on Jan. 29 by the Minnesota's Board of Dentistry. His medical license will remain suspended for the duration of trial.