A Texas dentist has been arrested over three months after a tragic incident involving the death of a 4-year-old patient during a dental procedure, as confirmed by the Fort Worth Police Department.
The incident occurred on April 1 when Aithana RodrÃguez-Arriaga underwent a dental procedure at Cuddle Kids Dental Care in Texas. The procedure, intended to address a tongue-tie issue, took a devastating turn when Aithana became unresponsive and later passed away despite efforts to save her.
Dr. Chrishelle Hemphill, aged 48, was taken into custody and charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily harm, a second-degree felony according to authorities.
Detective J. Spragins stated that evidence from Hemphill’s statements, her staff, and medical professionals pointed to neglect on Hemphill’s part that contributed to Aithana’s tragic death.
An autopsy conducted by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner revealed that Aithana died from meperidine (Demerol) toxicity, deemed an accident in Hemphill’s arrest warrant affidavit. The affidavit mentioned that Aithana had 793 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) of meperidine in her system, an opioid typically used as a preoperative medication.
Moreover, the medical examiner highlighted that the dosage given to Aithana exceeded the recommended levels for adults, indicating potential toxicity even for an adult. The affidavit alleged that Hemphill administered meperidine, alongside other sedatives and nitrous oxide gas, without proper monitoring and failed to provide timely emergency care when the child became unresponsive.
Following her arrest, Hemphill posted a $10,000 bond and could face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted.
The investigation, led by the Fort Worth Police Department’s Crimes Against Children Unit, was initiated upon learning of the incident and identifying the dentist involved. A GoFundMe page was created by the child’s mother in memory of Aithana, describing her as a vibrant and kind-hearted young girl whose sudden loss has deeply affected their family.
The page encourages donations to support Aithana’s family during this difficult time.
