A wrongful death lawsuit filed against an Arizona dentist and a practice after a 40-year-old died due to complications related to anesthesia administration during implant placement has been settled, according to a story published on December 22 on Arizona ABC15.
Bill and Brenda Swanson, the parents of Derek Swanson, who died after undergoing a procedure by Dr. Derek Lamb at Scottsdale Facial and Oral Surgery in Arizona, reached a settlement with the parties on all claims. The settlement amount remains confidential, according to the story.
In addition to the lawsuit, Swanson’s parents have tried to get the state law changed, requiring two providers during procedures. One provider would be focused on surgery, while the other would be licensed and responsible for anesthesia. Currently, this protocol isn’t required in any U.S. state.
Lamb, an oral surgeon, oversaw the surgery and the anesthesia during their son’s procedure in 2023. The procedure was on March 3, 2023, and Derek Swanson was taken off life support one week later. The county medical examiner ruled that Swanson’s death was due to complications related to anesthesia administration.
During its investigation following Derek Swanson's death, the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners ruled that there were several deviations from the standard of care, including that Lamb reportedly didn’t consider several risk factors. Derek Swanson smoked cannabis, which can raise the risk of throat spasms that can close off the airway during anesthesia, on the morning of the dental implant procedure.
Lamb claimed to the board that he didn’t consider his cannabis use but that Swanson didn’t appear impaired. The board determined that Lamb’s conduct was unprofessional and required him to take 12 hours of continuing education. Three months later, Lamb’s anesthesia permit was reinstated.
