MEDINA, Ohio (Law&Crime) — An Ohio man died after a routine dental procedure to remove three teeth, and now his widow has filed lawsuits against the surgeon and associated staff.
The Incident
On August 4, 2023, 48-year-old Matthew Miller arrived at the Visage Surgical Institute in Medina, Ohio, for the extraction of three teeth. While under general anesthesia, Miller reportedly “desaturated and stopped breathing on his own.” Despite life-saving efforts at the facility and transport to a hospital, Miller remained on life support for four days and died on August 8, 2023. The official cause of death was listed as acute hypoxic respiratory failure, probably due to procedural sedation.
The Lawsuits
Widow Brandy Miller filed two lawsuits in Cuyahoga County, alleging negligence by Dr. Faisal Quereshy and his staff for choosing general anesthesia for the procedure. She also named Case Western Reserve University, where one dental assistant present was a research fellow. The suits claim that some staff members were not licensed to practice dentistry and that Matthew Miller, being morbidly obese, was at higher risk under general anesthesia.
Lawyers for Case Western Reserve University denied any wrongdoing, stating that Miller was not a patient under their care.
Dental Board Findings
A hearing notice obtained by WOIO from the Ohio State Dental Board reportedly highlighted that Miller was not a good candidate for general anesthesia and should have had a pre-procedure physical examination, which was not conducted. The Board noted that putting him under general anesthesia directly contributed to the risk of respiratory failure.
Family Statement
Attorney Michael Pasternak, representing Brandy Miller, said:
“The Miller family and their friends have and will forever feel the daily pain of Matt’s death, a death that was 100% preventable and should not have happened.”
Pasternak also noted that public hearings by the Ohio Dental Board will begin October 22, 2025, to address the charges against Dr. Quereshy, and hopes the lawsuit ensures safer procedures for future patients.
Law&Crime reports that an attorney for Dr. Quereshy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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