Derek Swanson wrongful death lawsuit settled after Arizona man dying from dental anesthesia after suffering fatal brain injury as family demand change in state laws.
The family of an Arizona man who died after a routine dental procedure went tragically wrong have settled a filed wrongful death lawsuit.
Derek Swanson, 40, of Scottsdale had taken a final photo of himself moments before undergoing a dental implant procedure only to run into complications during the operation and never wake up after being put under.
Posted Swanson on March 3, 2023, ‘Yesterday, new car. Today, implant! Fun never stops.’
Dental patient died due complications during administration of anesthesia
Derek died of a brain injury due to complications of anesthesia administration during the dental procedure, according to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner.
His heartbroken parents, Brenda and Bill Swanson, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the dentist, Dr Derek Lamb, and Scottsdale Facial and Oral Surgery.
More than two years later, Swanson’s family and the dental group, this week agreed to settle on an undisclosed sum in the aftermath of dental patient’s death.
Brenda Swanson said that she went with her son to the dental surgery on the fateful day speaking to ABC15.
‘He was so excited,’ she told the outlet. ‘He had fixed a lot of teeth, and they were looking really nice.’
‘They called Derek back, and that I won’t forget. He turned around and he gave me a that wink and said, ‘love you,’ and he walked back,’ the mom told ABC15.
But her son never returned to the waiting room, where Swanson sat with a growing sense that something was wrong.
‘I just kept waiting and waiting, and Derek wasn’t coming out,’ she said.
Victim’s family demand change in state laws
Medics at the surgery told Swanson there had been complications, and her son was rushed to the emergency room, where he was put on life support.
‘This happened on the third of March 2023, and we took Derek off life support on the 10th of March,’ Swanson said.
The Swansons’ lawsuit detailed a list of alleged failings during the anesthesia process which meant Derek did not have enough oxygen, triggering the brain injury.
Attorneys for Dr Lamb denied any wrongdoing in court, and said his care did not contribute to Derek’s death.
The Swansons are now pushing for a change to Arizona law meaning that a dentist and an anesthetist should be legally required for dental surgery.
At present, dentists can perform surgery while also giving anesthesia, given they have a state permit to do so.
‘We would like to not have another family go through what we had to go through and are going through and will be for the rest of our life,’ the mom said.
