A mother who was suing for damages after her son suffered a cardiac arrest during a visit to the dentist has reached an out of court settlement.
Evidence began in the £2.5million claim brought by Anne Marie Gallacher on behalf of her son Ryan at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Tuesday, But the judge, Lord Uist, was told that the case, which was scheduled to last three weeks, has now settled. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
Ms Gallacher, from Old Kilpatrick in Dunbartonshire, was claiming compensation alleging her son suffered "significant brain damage" after his heart stopped when nine teeth were extracted under general anaesthetic.
She was suing Greater Glasgow health board in the action in which it denied liability. It also maintained that the sum sought was excessive.
Ryan was aged six when he went to Townhead Health Centre in Glasgow, for a dentist to remove four permanent teeth and five milk teeth. He was given a general anaesthetic but during the dental procedure a tooth crumbled as it was extracted and a tube-like Laryngeal Mask Airway was inserted to protect his airway. Ryan, now 14, developed breathing problems and suffered a cardiac arrest before he was resuscitated.
The health board maintained that the anaesthetist, a consultant at Glasgow Royal Infirmary who is now an associate professor in anaesthetics at an American university, complied with all duties of reasonable care.
The anaesthetist said that the incident was "a unique experience" and that Ryan was the only healthy individual where he ended up in "a cardiac arrest situation". He told the court that there was a history of mild asthma with the child but said that on the day he was well and there was no problem.
Ryan spent almost two months in hospital after the incident and received physiotherapy and speech and occupational therapy. In the action it was alleged he will have significant difficulties living independently as an adult and will require support.
