VANCOUVER — A dentist from Kamloops, B.C., who improperly sedated a young woman, leaving her with a severe brain injury, has been ordered by a disciplinary panel to pay more than $100,000.
The College of Dental Surgeons of B.C. ruled this summer that Dr. Bobby Rishiraj did not recognize his patient, identified only as HZ, was in cardiac arrest and so delayed resuscitating her in November 2012.
HZ was deeply sedated to have her wisdom teeth removed, even though Rishiraj was approved only to provide moderate sedation at his private practice.
A college disciplinary panel has reprimanded Rishiraj, suspended him for three months and ordered him to pay the hefty fine and take an ethics course.
The panel says in its ruling that the 52-year-old dentist has lost business and is facing a potentially large and uninsured civil lawsuit against him.
It says the conditions Rishiraj must operate under will ensure he runs his practice according to college guidelines.
