A Miami woman, Maria Lugo Querales, has been left with severe brain damage and requires round-the-clock care after allegedly being given a large dose of fentanyl during what is being called an “unnecessary” dental surgery in Texas. The incident occurred on May 10, 2022, in Marble Falls, Texas, where Lugo underwent anesthesia administered by Dr. Jerry Teague. According to a lawsuit filed by Lugo’s husband, Luis Espana, Teague is accused of administering excessive amounts of anesthesia drugs without intubating her first. Other dentists involved in the surgery, Dr. Lane Freeman and Dr. Stuart Nunnally, as well as their dental clinic, Nunnally, Freeman and Owens, are also named in the civil lawsuit. Lugo’s tragic case highlights the dangers of negligence in medical procedures.
Lugo initially visited the dental practice in Florida to undergo a procedure for “alleged ‘cavitations’ and the extraction of an asymptomatic root canal-treated tooth,” according to the lawsuit. She was given 400 grams of fentanyl, the sedative midazolam, and the anesthetic lidocaine during the surgery, as reported by the San Antonio Express-News, citing a police report. The incident took place a day after Teague had gone missing and failed to return after an evening walk. It is worth noting that Teague had recently been diagnosed with cancer and had less than a year to live, as stated in the lawsuit. Despite his condition, Teague went to work the next day, with Lugo being his only patient. Shockingly, neither Teague nor the other dentists obtained Lugo’s informed consent for the anesthesia.
Tragically, Teague failed to intubate Lugo, resulting in her overdosing on the anesthesia drugs, as mentioned in court filings. Paramedics rushed Lugo to St. David’s Medical Center in Austin, where the scheduled dental surgery was canceled. Regrettably, Teague passed away two weeks later due to his battle with cancer. It is worth noting that Teague had previously faced disciplinary action, including a three-year suspension from practicing medicine by the State Board of Dental Examiners after testing positive for fentanyl and midazolam in a hair follicle test. However, his suspension ended in 2019, and he was subsequently hired by the Marble Falls clinic, raising questions about the dental clinic’s hiring practices and patient safety protocols.
Currently, Lugo resides in a neurological rehabilitation facility in Florida, requiring assistance with breathing through a tracheotomy and being fed through a tube. It is revealed that she sought treatment at the Texas clinic after watching a YouTube video featuring Dr. Ludwig Johnson, an Instagram influencer with a significant following. The video discussed the concept of “cavitations” and their potential toxicity, which influenced Lugo’s decision to visit the Austin-area practice. Lugo’s husband, Espana, has reached a confidential settlement with Teague’s estate and is now seeking unspecified damages from the dental clinic.
This devastating case underscores the importance of ensuring patient safety and informed consent in medical procedures. The tragic consequences suffered by Maria Lugo Querales should serve as a wake-up call for the dental industry to prioritize patient well-being above all else. It is crucial for authorities to thoroughly investigate this incident and take appropriate action to prevent such negligence from recurring in the future.
