Dentist linked to child’s death had prior patient safety violation

A California dentist who treated a 9-year-old girl hours before she died following a routine procedure was placed on probation years prior for another procedure mishap, documents show.

Back in 2020, Dr. Ryan Watkins was disciplined over a 2016 incident in which a 54-year-old man’s heart stopped after Watkins put him under anesthesia during a dental procedure.

According to a complaint filed with the Dental Board of California, Watkins engaged in “unprofessional conduct” after “clearly excessively administering drugs or treatment” to the patient, identified only as “MK.”

The man had seen Watkins approximately three times before the dental surgery and was considered to be in “excellent health” and was a triathlete. 

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However, it was noted that the victim had a low resting heart rate, dental phobia and had a history of fainting, which the complaint said Watkins did not investigate or document.

The patient’s heart stopped during the surgery where Watkins began CPR to revitalize it until EMS arrived, the documents said.

Hospital staff noted that the victim’s ribs were fractured due to Watkins performing chest compressions on him. The man was later diagnosed with a mild neurocognitive disorder caused by cardiac arrest, records show.

“A doctor concluded that the administration of ephedrine likely caused MK’s tachycardia (increased heart rate above 100 bpm) that would have subsided and that the use of adenosine was unnecessary and caused MK’s heart to stop (asystole),” the documents read.

Watkins was placed under probation for 35 months by the California Dental Board, which still allowed him to keep working at the practice as long as he complied with additional requirements and oversight. 

According to the decision, Watkins was also ordered to pay more than $19,000 to cover investigative and prosecution costs. 

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According to a statement shared by Dr. Ryan Watkins — a licensed dentist who is trained in anesthesiology, per the dentist’s website — the girl’s death happened hours after the procedure. (Google Maps)

Watkins confirmed the previous incident to Fox News Digital, stating that “emergency…