The parents of a Washington teen who died while undergoing a routine dental procedure have accused the oral surgeon of trying to "maximize profitability" by doubling up on his responsibilities when he acted both as surgeon and anesthesiologist, according to a lawsuit.
Erik Edge, 17, died in June while getting his wisdom teeth removed by oral and maxillofacial surgeon Bryan W. McLelland, DDS at Liberty Oral & Facial Surgery in Spokane, Washington, the law firm representing the Edge family said, announcing their medical malpractice and negligence lawsuit earlier this week.
McLelland allegedly assumed the roles of surgeon and anesthesiologist during Erik's procedure.
Following anesthesia administration, Erik's airway closed, but McLelland and staff allegedly failed to realize the teen was experiencing a medical emergency for several minutes and responded inadequately, according to court filings.
"Patient safety should always be the top priority," Edge family attorney George Ahrend of the Luvera Law Firm said in a statement. "With almost all surgeries, it is standard practice for anesthesia to be administered by someone devoting their full attention to the patient. When a surgeon splits their jobs to double their profits, it opens the door to unnecessary risks that lead to tragic losses like Erik's death."
The dual roles McLelland allegedly assumed during the procedure purportedly "allowed McLelland to maximize profitability," according to court documents, the law firm stated.
McLelland allegedly also failed to inform Erik's parents that he would be acting as both surgeon and anesthesiologist, according to the documents.
"As a parent, you trust that a medical professional can safely perform a routine procedure like wisdom tooth removal, and to find out that Dr. McLelland was instead multi-tasking for profit just adds to our heartbreak," Erik's mom, Sara Edge, said in a statement.
"Our son lost his life in a completely preventable tragedy, and our family will never be the same. But we're committed to speaking up and raising these safety issues so that other families can make informed decisions."
She added, "Parents need to be aware that this could happen to their child. More people talking about this and spreading awareness will be the catalyst for change."
Sara described her late son as someone with a "loving and giving heart."
"He wanted to make people happy, to lighten a heavy load when needed. He actively sought out ways to bring joy to others and had a smile on his face constantly," she said.
"He was a Mama's boy and his Daddy's heart and Zack's [his brother's] anchor," Sara wrote, according to a GoFundMe launched to help build a water well in a Honduran village, where Erik once volunteered.
Ahrend said the family is suing in an effort to hold McClelland accountable. The amount of monetary damages they seek is unclear.
"This family has faced unspeakable tragedy, and nothing will take away that pain," he stated. "But the legal system can help uncover the truth and shine a light on questionable safety practices that should be improved. It's a step toward preventing future tragedies like this one."