A Texas dentist has been charged after a 4-year-old girl died from an allegedly lethal dose of an opioid during a tongue-tie removal procedure earlier this year, according to the Fort Worth Police Department.
Background
Chrishelle Hemphill, 48, operated Cuddle Kids Dental Care on Sycamore School Road in southwest Fort Worth. On April 1, Aithana Rodriguez Arriaga was brought to the pediatric dental practice after a preschool teacher suggested the child might have a tongue-tie—a condition where tissue tethers the tongue to the floor of the mouth—due to difficulty pronouncing certain words, according to an arrest warrant obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Aithana underwent a frenectomy, a surgical procedure to remove tongue-tie tissue. Following the operation, she did not wake up, law enforcement said. Fire department paramedics rushed her to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The Investigation
During Aithana's autopsy, medical examiners found the opioid Demerol in her blood at 793 nanograms per milliliter, according to the arrest warrant. Investigators consulted with medical professionals who stated that an acceptable adult range for the drug is 200 to 500 nanograms per milliliter.
Beyond the excessive Demerol levels—which examiners said would be toxic even for an adult—investigators allege Aithana was also administered two additional sedatives and nitrous oxide gas during the procedure.
Police say Hemphill allegedly gave the child a 30-milligram dose of Demerol. Another pediatric dentist consulted by investigators stated they would have provided a maximum dose of 10 milligrams for a child that age, according to the warrant.
"Throughout this investigation I have learned from Hemphill's own statements, her staff's statements and from medical professionals that there was evident neglect on Hemphill's part that led to Aithana's death," Fort Worth Police Detective J. Spragins wrote in the arrest warrant.
When attempts were made to revive the unresponsive child, investigators say practitioners at the practice administered the wrong reversal drug. Medical staff gave flumazenil, which is designed to counteract benzodiazepines—not opioids like Demerol. The appropriate reversal agent should have been Narcan, police said.
A subsequent search warrant executed at the dental practice revealed Hemphill could not demonstrate where the office stored Narcan, according to law enforcement. Investigators also allege Hemphill failed to recognize and treat signs of respiratory distress when they were present.
The Charges
Hemphill has been charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury in connection with Aithana's death. She was arrested on July 15 and later released on a $10,000 surety bond, police department records show.
A GoFundMe page established for Aithana's family described her as a child whose "presence always lit up a room."
"She was sweet, loving, and touched the lives of all who knew her," the fundraiser reads.
Key Takeaways
- Aithana Rodriguez Arriaga, 4, died after undergoing a frenectomy at Cuddle Kids Dental Care in Fort Worth, Texas
- Medical examiners found Demerol at 793 ng/mL in her blood—well above toxic levels for an adult
- Police allege Hemphill gave the child a 30-milligram dose, three times what another pediatric dentist said would be appropriate maximum
- Resuscitation attempts used flumazenil instead of Narcan to reverse opioid effects
- Hemphill has been charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury and released on $10,000 bond
What's Next
The case remains under active investigation. Court dates for the pending charge have not yet been scheduled. The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners may conduct a separate review of Hemphill's dental license.