Child goes into cardiac arrest after getting general anesthetic at private dental clinic

Four-year-old Jarilyn Roulette was rushed to hospital in critical condition after undergoing general anesthetic at a private dental clinic in Winnipeg, says her mom.

Four-year-old Jarilyn Roulette went into cardiac arrest halfway through a dental procedure after being administered general anesthetic at a private Winnipeg dental clinic in October, says her mother.

Her mom Apryl says Jarilyn will never walk or eat again on her own and has brain damage.

After going into cardiac arrest during the dental procedure, the young girl was rushed to hospital in critical condition.

She is now listed in stable condition at Children’s Hospital, but CTV Winnipeg has learned she remains unresponsive.

Jarilyn and Apryl came to Winnipeg for the routine dental procedure, which included fillings, extractions and caps, from Sandy Bay First Nation.

Two weeks earlier, they had visited Disneyland for Jarilyn's fourth birthday.

Apryl says her daughter was in good health at the time of the dental procedure.

The doctor who administered the anesthetic was a general practitioner, with at least a year of additional training, CTV News has learned.

An anesthesiologist who spoke to CTV on Friday raised questions about the procedures done in dental clinics.

GP anesthetists can only work on children older than two years who are in good health and the GP anesthetists don’t need specialized pediatric training to work with children, he says.

In contrast, he says anesthesiologists are doctors who must have five years of additional training and are certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons.

While the Royal College governs anesthesiologists and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba governs physicians, CTV News is told there is not a specific regulatory body that monitors the practice of GPs who also administer an anesthetic.

Apryl said she’s devastated by what happened to her daughter and cries all the time.

She said a lawsuit may be pending.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba is the group that would investigate the role of a doctor who administered anesthetic but it doesn’t make it public if they are investigating a doctor. It only makes information public if disciplinary action is taken.

The Manitoba Dental Association also cannot disclose if it’s investigating the clinic in question or its staff.