Two Arizona dentists are facing the stark reality of potentially losing their licenses following patient deaths under their care during dental procedures. According to a report by ABC15, Dr. Thomas Endicott from Arizona is under investigation after a fatality occurred in his chair and may now lose his dental licenses in Arizona and Utah due to allegations of 'unprofessional conduct' and failure to report disciplinary actions.
Dr. Sergio Gomes De Souza breached practice restrictions after a patient died from anesthesia complications, admitting to performing prohibited procedures. He expressed embarrassment and shame to the regulatory board. Both De Souza and Endicott have faced disciplinary issues before. Endicott has a history of red flags, including losing licenses in other states over healthcare fraud and overprescribing narcotics but regained licenses in Arizona in 2012 and Utah in 2016.
Endicott and De Souza are accused of mismanagement during medical emergencies resulting in patient deaths and failing to adhere to imposed restrictions. Endicott didn't identify a cardiac emergency, while De Souza mishandled a patient with severe heart failure. The Arizona Board of Dental Examiners is moving to revoke their licenses. De Souza's hearing date is pending, while Endicott's is set to resume in February after a continuance request.
Despite these events, it's noted by ABC15 that since 2018, out of the seven Arizona dentists whose patients have died after anesthesia or sedation procedures, all remain licensed, though some do have practice restrictions; the current cases of Endicott and De Souza shed light on the broader issue of oversight and patient safety within the dental community. Endicott is in the midst of a revocation hearing on his license after a woman died in his dental chair in 2021 and has repeatedly declined to speak to ABC15 about the situation, his case is paving the way a tension between professional redemption and the unforgiving reality of past transgressions.
