An investigation has been opened into the deaths of two Durban children who died after dental procedures at a Pinetown facility last month on two separate occasions but both with the same medical practitioner in attendance.
One child was four and the other six, reports The Sunday Tribune.
It is believed one of them died on the induction of anaesthesia and the other died while on a treatment apparatus at the Netcare Medicross Pinetown Day Theatre.
All medical procedures at the theatre facility have been temporarily suspended.
Police confirmed inquest dockets had been opened into both deaths.
The mother of the four-year-old girl told police her daughter lost consciousness and “her body became limp” after the treatment.
The parent of the six-year-old told police her son was due to have a tooth extracted, and had no other health issues.
She said after the procedure, he failed to gain consciousness, despite the medics’ efforts to revive him.
The doctor requested the child be placed in an ICU facility but he died en-route.
Jacques du Plessis, managing director of Netcare’s hospital division, said: “We are deeply saddened to confirm the deaths of the two young patients.
“Given these highly unusual tragedies, medical procedures have been temporarily suspended until the circumstances …have been established.
He confirmed investigations had been launched by both the SAPS and the HPCSA.
Sunday Tribune PressReader article – Deadly trips to dentist (Open access)
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