Death in the dental chair

A coronial inquest is being held in Sydney into the death of a patient who was being sedated in the dental practice preparatory to implant procedures. Stories in The Australian on 3 July and the Sydney Morning Herald on 4 July refer.

No anaesthetist was present and the Inquiry has been told that the patient was "starved of oxygen during surgery". A lawyer for the patient's family has told the coroner that he would be asking him to recommend criminal charges against the dentist involved. The inquest continues.