A Chicago-based dental chain is being sued on behalf of a 17-year-old boy who died in 2011 after undergoing a root canal at one of the chain's offices.
Christopher Schutzius went to the Blue Island office of Dental Dreams on February 1, 2011, after he lost a filling while eating a piece of candy, according to a story in the Southtown Star.
He underwent root canal surgery and four days later began complaining of feeling sick, his foster mother said after his death. He was rushed to a hospital on February 8 and died the following day.
The county medical examiner determined Schutzius died of sepsis contracted after the root canal.
The lawsuit claims negligence against Dental Dreams and Jungah Ko, DDS, who allegedly performed the operation. According to the complaint, the doctor used the wrong-size endodontic file during the procedure and failed to properly drain and seal the tooth, which spread the infection.
The lawsuit claims wrongful death and negligence and seeks an unspecified amount in damages, plus medical and funeral expenses, according to the Star.
