Dentist Accused Of Losing Tools Down Patient's Throat Before Death
Victim's Daughter Filing Civil Lawsuit
POSTED: Friday, June 20, 2008
UPDATED: 6:58 am EDT June 23,
2008
WINTER PARK, Fla. -- A Central Florida woman is filing a civil lawsuit against a dentist accused of dropping a screwdriver and another medical tool down her father's throat that she claims led to his death.In October of 2006, Anne Greer took her father, Charles Gaal, 90, to dentist Dr. Wesley Meyers in Winter Park for implants to secure his dentures.During the procedure, Greer said Meyers dropped a medical screwdriver down her father's throat. She said it took a colonoscopy to have the screwdriver removed from his large intestine.Then, in May of 2007, despite his daughter's concerns, Gaal returned to Wesley for implants and a different tool was accidentally dropped down Gaal's throat, Local 6's Louis Bolden reported.Meyers dropped a torque wrench down Gaal's throat, Greer said.The 90-year-old was hospitalized for 50 days and died from complications last June, according to Greer."My father did not die in God's time," Greer said. "Wesley Meyers is the one who is responsible for my father's death and it was a horrible death."Greer said she has a hard time sleeping because of the incident."It has been a nightmare," Greer said. "No one should have to die like my father died. Wesley Meyers is solely responsible for that tool entering my father's body."The Florida Department of Health conducted an investigation and filed a formal complaint stating Meyers was negligent in standard of care, record keeping and failed to report the incident.The department's findings were then turned over to the Board of Dentistry.Meyers reached a settlement with the board, Bolden reported. He was fined $17,000 and advised not to perform dental implants until he completes more training.Meyers, who is still practicing, was contacted at his home."I've been practicing 35 years without a problem and it was a terrible accident," Meyers said. "If my retiring would bring his life back, I'd be happy to do that. Since I can't, I have lots of patients who have been with me for 30-plus years and have a lot of confidence in me."Greer said she does not believe Meyers should be allowed to practice so she is telling her story so other potential patients can be aware."It is criminal," Greer said. "It is immoral and it is wrong."Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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