A 23-year-old woman died after undergoing a wisdom tooth extraction at a dental clinic in Canada, and her family has now filed a lawsuit alleging negligence by the dentist and the clinic.Virginia Blatz died on November 27, 2024, after visiting Boundary Trails Dental Centre in Morden, Manitoba, for the procedure. Her father, Dulaney Blatz, filed a statement of claim on behalf of her estate in Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench on September 29, naming dentist Ronald David Janz, his dental corporation and the corporation operating the clinic as defendants.According to the lawsuit, Virginia was given medication to prepare for the procedure before receiving a local anaesthetic administered by Janz at around 9:20 am. The filing alleges that within minutes, she experienced two brief episodes of tonic-clonic seizures before she stopped breathing and her pulse became undetectable. An ambulance was called, and she was taken to a nearby health centre, where she was pronounced dead.An autopsy reportedly determined that Virginia died from local anaesthetic systemic toxicity after the medication was inadvertently injected into a blood vessel, according to reporting by the Winnipeg Free Press and CTV News.
What does the lawsuit allege?
The lawsuit alleges that the dentist’s treatment and management of Virginia’s care were negligent and caused or materially contributed to her death.Among the alleged failures listed in the court filing are injecting the anaesthetic into a blood vessel rather than the intended tissue, failing to check for blood by pulling back on the syringe plunger before administering the medication, and using an allegedly excessive dose.The claim also alleges that the dentist failed to adequately account for the risks associated with the medications used, recognise and respond appropriately to signs of anaesthetic toxicity, and administer or promptly initiate lipid emulsion therapy, a treatment used in certain cases of local anaesthetic toxicity.The clinic is also accused of negligence. The lawsuit alleges that it failed to ensure adequate staff training, maintain appropriate emergency protocols and have the necessary antidote treatment and oxygen readily available.The family is seeking damages under Manitoba’s Fatal Accidents Act, along with funeral-related expenses and other costs.
Dentist faces restrictions on administering anaesthetic
According to the Manitoba Dental Association’s public registry, Janz has been licensed as a dentist since 2015. The registry lists restrictions requiring him to administer local anaesthetic only under supervision, along with restrictions relating to sedation services.The case comes as Virginia’s family continues to seek answers about the circumstances surrounding her death. The family had previously raised concerns about the pace and transparency of the Manitoba Dental Association’s investigation into the incident.The allegations in the civil lawsuit have not been proven in court. At the time of the reports, the defendants had not filed statements of defence.
