The family of Margaret O’Doherty, who suffered a cardiac arrest during a dental implant procedure at a Dublin clinic and passed away five days later, has reached a settlement in a High Court action over her death. O’Doherty, a mother of three, underwent the implant surgery at Dublin Specialist Dentistry in Sandyford, Dublin, where she was given conscious sedation for the procedure. After five of seven planned implants were completed, the 72-year-old experienced cardiac arrest. Emergency services were called and she was transported to hospital, where she died days later.
The legal proceedings alleged that O’Doherty received excessive doses of intravenous sedative and local anaesthetic, which were claimed to have led to her cardiac arrest. The family also argued there was insufficient attention to her age, weight, and body size when administering sedation and anaesthesia. The defendants denied all allegations. The case was settled after mediation, without any admission of liability, and was brought before the High Court only for division of a €35,000 mental distress solatium payment.
Counsel Bruce Antoniotti described the situation as especially tragic and sad. He noted that three years earlier, the Coroners Court had returned a verdict of medical misadventure. The coroner recommended that the Dental Council urgently update its code of practice for anaesthesia, sedation, and resuscitation in dentistry, to reflect safe practices for outpatient procedures. The O’Doherty family expressed their hope that such recommendations would be implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Margaret O’Doherty had attended the clinic after damaging her dental bridge in a fall. She was scheduled for seven dental implants in a procedure expected to last four hours. In the week before the surgery, O’Doherty inquired about more conservative treatment options but was advised that implants were the most suitable. During the legal action, it was argued there was inadequate care in managing sedation and that her health factors were not sufficiently considered. It was further claimed she suffered a brain injury secondary to the cardiac arrest. All claims were denied and the settlement involves no admission of fault.
Justice Paul Coffey, who approved the division of the solatium payment, extended his deepest sympathy to the O’Doherty family, who did not attend the court ruling. The case has drawn attention to the need for updated safety procedures in sedation dentistry, particularly for outpatient settings.
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