The charges followed the death of a 3-year-old patient who underwent a root canal. The month-long trial centered around a December 2013 procedure. Dr. Geyer conducted a routine root canal; however, the patient stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest.
In January 2014, the patient died. The Honolulu Chief Medical Examiner testified the pediatric patient likely died due to sedatives and anesthesia. According to the Chief Medical Examiner, the patient’s immediate cause of death was from an infection from being on a ventilator.
Dr. Geyer’s attorneys argued the patient’s mother never disclosed the upper respiratory injection the child had at the time of the procedure. This, according to attorneys, caused the patient’s vocal cords to shut, stopping oxygen flow.
The patient was diagnosed with the respiratory infection a month prior to the procedure. Dr. Geyer said she would have delayed the root canal if she had been informed about the infection.
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