The University of Colorado (CU) has agreed to pay $150,000 to the family of a 41-year-old man who who went to the CU School of Dental Medicine for treatment and died after surgery to extract an abscessed tooth, according to a story in the Denver Post.
The $150,000 is the maximum permitted under a law covering the legal liability of state government entities. In settling the case, university didn't admit wrongdoing, the Post reported.
In 2008, Simon Medrano went to the CU School of Dental Medicine complaining of pain and inflammation. When Michael Savage, DDS, a professor at the school, was unable to extract the tooth thought to be causing the problems, Medrano was transferred to University of Colorado Hospital, according to the story. Once there, he was given a general anesthesia in the operating room and Dr. Savage was able to extract the tooth.
Medrano's breathing tube was removed after the surgery, and he initially appeared stable, but his airway became obstructed and doctors had difficulty reinserting the tube, the Post reported. He then stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest.
Although doctors were able to revive Medrano, his brain had been deprived of oxygen. A follow-up imaging scan showed no brain activity, and Medrano's family took him off life support, according to the story.
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