Additional Coverage:
- North Carolina boy, 2, dies after visit to dentist as family are told ‘we may never know why’ (irishstar.com)
Family Demands Answers After Toddler Dies During Routine Dental Procedure
GREENSBORO, NC – A North Carolina family is grappling with profound grief and demanding answers following the tragic death of their 2-year-old son, Er’Mias, during what they believed was a routine dental procedure in July.
Parents David Mitchell and Shardé Sherrill brought Er’Mias to Valleygate Dental Surgery Center for tooth caps. They allege that they were not informed of their son’s medical emergency until approximately 40 minutes into the surgery, and only after an ambulance had already transported the child to a hospital located 30 minutes away. By the time they arrived at the hospital, driving separately, it was too late to save Er’Mias.
The young boy succumbed to injuries, the nature of which has not yet been publicly disclosed. While dental health experts acknowledge that complications, though extremely rare, can occur during such procedures and, in rare instances, lead to fatal outcomes, the family is desperate for clarity.
Virginia Jones, CEO of Valleygate, addressed the incident in a letter to partners and employees, expressing uncertainty regarding the cause of Er’Mias’s death. “Let me be clear, we do not yet know what caused Er’mias’ tragedy,” Jones wrote.
“We may never know. While exceedingly rare, unexpected events can occur, even under the most carefully controlled circumstances.”
In the same communication, Jones also extended an apology to the parents for the delay in informing them about their son’s critical condition. “The medical, dental, nursing, EMS, and hospital staff who responded to Er’mias did so with professionalism and did everything they could to prevent this tragedy,” Jones stated.
“In the urgency of the situation, our focus was solely on providing care. We regret that this prevented us from notifying his family sooner and recognize how painful that delay was.”
However, the family maintains they have not received their son’s full medical records from the appointment, despite previously being told about complications involving his lungs and anesthesia.
The Greensboro Police Department and the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners have launched separate investigations into Er’Mias’s death.
On September 25, the grieving family staged a demonstration outside the dental practice, distributing leaflets that read, “Actions were unethical and we need answers as to why.”
Constance McCrae, Shardé Sherrill’s aunt, voiced the family’s anguish during the protest. “You sat there, you waited, you never notified his parents,” McCrae said, questioning the protocol. “You took this baby alone in an ambulance and told them they needed to go to the hospital…?”
McCrae emphasized the routine nature of the visit, stating, “This baby was going for dental work… dental work. It wasn’t like he was going for open heart surgery.”
The community awaits the findings of the ongoing investigations as Er’Mias’s family continues their search for truth and accountability.