Dentist sued for $1M following patient death

The family of an 82-year-old woman who developed a blood clot and died following dental implant surgery has filed a lawsuit, seeking $1 million from the dentist in Texas who performed the procedure, according to multiple news reports.

A negligence lawsuit recently was filed against Dr. Andrew Kelsey, the dentist who performed the surgery of Fredericka Bailey. Bailey, who had end-stage kidney disease and sickle cell disease, died a few days after the surgery in the summer of 2022, according to reports.

Due to her medical history, Bailey was receiving dialysis four times per week. Despite her condition, the suit claimed that the dentist approved of her undergoing the implant surgery. Additionally, the suit alleges that Frontline Dental Implant Specialists, the company responsible for Bailey’s procedure, has a policy that discourages clinicians from getting medical clearance for patients, according to reports. Furthermore, the family accuses Kelsey of failing to consult with specialists about Bailey’s medical conditions.

In November 2023, the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners filed a disciplinary action against Kelsey for Bailey’s death. The dentist agreed to pay a $4,000 fine and take eight hours of training and complete an assessment, according to the agreed settlement order.

Also, the order referenced a disciplinary action taken against Kelsey in 2019. In that case, he failed to get medical clearance from a patient’s primary care doctor before invasive dental surgery.