Argentine Dentist Convicted for Unnecessary Extraction of 12 Child's Teeth

In a shocking case of medical malpractice, a dentist in San Juan, Argentina, has been handed a one-year suspended prison sentence and a year-long ban from practicing her profession. The dentist, identified as María Romina Pellice, was found guilty of extracting 12 teeth from a five-year-old boy without the consent of his parents. This egregious act occurred in 2017 and has had lasting physical and psychological repercussions on the child's development.

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El niño sufrió grandes daños psicológicos y secuelas físicas que impactaron durante su crecimiento, como tener que usar ortodoncia para controlar el crecimiento descontrolado de sus dientes.

The ordeal began when the child's parents sought medical attention for his dental pain and high fever at Hospital Rawson. After initial treatment, the child's condition did not improve, leading to his hospitalization at Sanatorio Argentino. It was during this time that the parents consulted with Pellice, who proceeded with the extractions under general anesthesia at Sanatorio CIMYN. Crucially, the parents were not informed about the extent of the procedure, including the number of teeth to be removed.

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Estaba ingresando a jardín. Él no podía poner en palabras lo que le había pasado ni explicar por qué le habían sacado los dientes. Sus amiguitos o compañeros se burlaban de él porque no tenía ninguno de sus dientes. Fue muy traumático

The consequences for the child were severe. He was left with only two permanent molars and a few front teeth. Judicial expertise revealed that while six teeth had cavities, four were healthy, and only two were deemed necessary for extraction. The boy suffered significant psychological distress, including bullying from peers due to his missing teeth, and physical challenges such as feeding difficulties and malocclusion, requiring extensive orthodontic treatment and psychological counseling. His father, Martín Lucero, described the situation as "a total change of life" for the family, impacting them economically and emotionally. The legal process has been lengthy, with the final conviction being ratified after previous resolutions were annulled.

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Tuvo que usar aparatos expansores porque, al sacarle todos los dientes podían salir para cualquier lado. Tuvo que ir a psicólogos. Nos generó un cambio de vida total en lo económico y en lo familiar