Dentist in Calif. dies while treating patient

The California Department of Industrial Relations Division of Occupational Safety and Health reported that a dentist died suddenly during a patient's routine hygiene visit, according to multiple news stories.

The unidentified dentist, who was performing the routine dental care at an Arvin, CA, practice died on December 21, which was the same day the state was notified. The state reported the death on December 27.

The Kern County Coroner’s Office confirmed that the clinician’s cause of death was sudden cardiac arrest, according to the stories. The death occurred at the office of Dr. Sandra J. Gong in Arvin, according to a story published on December 27 in The Bakersfield Californian.

Any serious injury, illness, or death that occurs at a workplace or in connection with employment in California must be reported to the state immediately, according to the California Department of Industrial Relations Division of Occupational Safety and Health.