Ohio dentist in teen's death settled prior lawsuit

Jan 9, 2011

Henry Mazorow, DDS, the 80-year-old Ohio dentist who performed oral surgery on a 13-year-old who died after he extracted two of her teeth, settled a wrongful death lawsuit regarding another patient more than a decade ago, according to a story in the Chronicle-Telegram.

Marissa Kingery from Elyria, OH, died January 3 following surgery by Dr. Mazorow to extract two deciduous teeth and uncover an impacted tooth on December 21. The tentative cause of death was lack of oxygen to the brain, according to the Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office. Toxicology tests are being done before a final determination is made.

Rosemary T. Johnson, who was 57, died in October 1997 while having six teeth removed by Dr. Mazorow, according to the Chronicle-Telegram.

Court records indicate that Johnson, a retired automaker and mother of five, had a reaction to halothane, a general anesthetic, and suffered a fatal cardiac arrhythmia. A lawsuit filed by her husband contended that Dr. Mazorow did not have a continuous electrocardiogram, which would have detected the arrhythmia, or a defibrillator, which could have saved her life. That suit was settled for $550,000, the story said.

Dr. Mazorow, who specializes in oral and maxillofacial surgery, did not return calls for comment.

Kingery's family has retained attorney Michael Czack to prepare a possible wrongful death lawsuit, according to the story. He also could not be reached for comment.

Dr. Mazorow has been practicing since 1956 and is licensed to administer general anesthesia, according to his license with the Ohio State Dental Board. The dental board has no record of disciplinary action against Dr. Mazorow.

Kingery is the sixth child to die in the U.S. since February 2009 after undergoing sedation prior to dental treatment.