Former Dentist Sentenced to Probation for Negligence in Child’s Dental Procedure
A former dentist from Texas received a probation sentence last week for her role in a dental procedure gone terribly wrong, leaving a 4-year-old girl with permanent brain damage. This has left the girl’s family deeply upset.
Bethaniel Jefferson, 46, faced this lenient punishment after being found guilty of recklessly causing bodily injury to Nevaeh Hall. The charge stemmed from her failure to call 911 for nearly five hours after the child suffered a seizure during a routine dental procedure.
Nevaeh, now 11, has been left unable to see, speak, walk, or eat as a result of the incident. Her mother, Courissa Clark, expressed her frustration, saying, “It’s just not fair. Obviously, she should be doing jail time and not just one or two years. She should be in there for a really long time.”
The Long Wait for Justice
At the sentencing, Nevaeh’s grandmother, Clara Clark, read a victim impact statement after waiting eight long years for justice. She emphasized the importance of calling 911 in such situations, stating, “The right thing to do was to call 911, but you refused to do so even though you knew she was in trouble. I would even say it was an accident, but when you refused to seek help it became a crime.”
Clara Clark also revealed the ongoing emotional, physical, mental, and financial struggles the family has endured since Nevaeh’s condition worsened.
A Tragic Dental Procedure
The incident occurred in January 2016 when Jefferson sedated Nevaeh to address dental issues. However, the young girl began experiencing violent seizures during the procedure. Instead of immediately seeking medical help, Jefferson attempted to treat her with more sedatives, causing Nevaeh to vomit.
For nearly five hours, Nevaeh’s condition deteriorated with critically low blood oxygen levels, a cold body, and continued seizures. Jefferson only called for an ambulance at 4:30 p.m.
Devastating Consequences
The day after Nevaeh was admitted to Texas Children’s Hospital, an ER doctor found her vitals stable but in a “stuporous state,” due to a lack of oxygen to her brain. This led to devastating brain damage, requiring 24-hour care for the rest of her life.
Jefferson was reported to the dental board by the ER doctor, and she took responsibility for her negligence at a hearing.
A Partial Civil Award
In a civil lawsuit, the family was awarded $95.5 million in damages, but they couldn’t receive the full sum because it exceeded Jefferson’s malpractice insurance coverage.
Frustration Over the Sentence
Nevaeh’s father, Derrick Hall, expressed his frustration with the lenient punishment, saying, “It’s really difficult. It’s real difficult. Every day, every hour, every minute, every second. Our daughter’s life is changed forever… Her life needs to be changed forever too. She gets a slap on the wrist? Come on now. That’s not right. It’s not right.”
This heartbreaking case has raised questions about the justice system’s response to medical negligence and the profound impact it can have on innocent lives.