Victim Judith Gan’s husband is suing Patel.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: Dr. Rashmi Patel, the Connecticut dentist who had his license suspended after the death of a patient in 2014, has now been charged with homicide one year after the tragedy transpired.
Patel turned himself into the police on February 17 for his role in 64-year-old Judith Gan’s death. According to testimony from a disciplinary hearing, Patel, with his monitors flashing warnings and his assistants frantically pointing to “horrifyingly low” oxygen levels, recklessly extracted 20 teeth from Gan, who was deteriorating rapidly under intravenous sedation.
Aside from being charged with a misdemeanor count of negligent homicide, Patel also faces a felony count of tampering with evidence, police said, according to the Associated Press.
Patel, who posted $25,000 bail, denies any culpability in Gan’s untimely death.
“Dr. Patel disputes the charges and urges that the charges be dropped,” his attorney Paul Knag said in a statement Wednesday.
While Knag asserts his client “followed the standard of care,” the Connecticut State Dental Commission said in a report that Patel “ignored” signs that Gan was in danger, including a drop in oxygen, discoloration in her face and hands, and distressed gurgling noises. The commission reported Patel ignored his assistants’ warnings and haphazardly continued with the procedures.
When one of Patel’s assistants yelled that Gan was “flatlining,” Patel began attempting to revive her while 911 was called, the report continued. Gan was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
The commission also determined Patel should not have attempted to perform so many procedures in one sitting given that Gan’s medical history included a heart attack six months before the visit, two strokes within the last two years and medication that may have adversely reacted to the sedating agent.
Patel is no stranger to malpractice lawsuits. In 2011 a Superior Court jury ruled in favor another ex-patient when Patel was sued for severely damaging her mouth during a reconstructive procedure — the plaintiff was awarded $442,000 in damages.
Gan’s husband has announced that he will likewise be suing Patel in memory of his departed wife.