Stricter rules for dental sedation

Illinois dentists will have to follow stricter state guidelines before using deep sedation on patients under a new law that came in response to the death of a 5-year-old Chicago girl.

The law was prompted by the death of Diamond Brownridge, who slipped into a coma and died last year after being sedated during a routine procedure at a Chicago dentist's office.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed the legislation mandating stricter training and permit requirements Friday.

Starting Jan. 1, dentists must get a permit from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations before performing deep sedation.

Dentists already have to get a permit for administering conscious sedation and anesthesia. But the new law says dentists must complete educational and equipment training to obtain permits for deep sedation. Dentists and their assistants also must be certified in CPR and continue training in sedation techniques.

"This law will help make sure that when people go to the dentist they feel safe and confident that whoever is administering anesthesia or sedation is skilled and licensed to do so," Blagojevich said in a statement issued Friday. "I hope this law keeps tragedies like (the Brownridge death) from happening."

Earlier this month, the Brownridge family settled a $1 million lawsuit with Chicago dentist Hicham Riba.

In May, the IDFPR ruled Riba's dentistry license should be suspended for 18 months. Last month, Riba filed a lawsuit challenging that ruling. He also is challenging rulings that suspended his pediatric dentistry specialty license for at least three years and his controlled-substance license for five years.