Why a Texas Dentist Is Charged After Girl, 4, Died During Dental Procedure

A Texas pediatric dentist has been arrested on accusations she administered a lethal dose of a sedative that caused the death of a 4-year-old girl during a dental procedure.

Chrishelle Hemphill, 48, was arrested on a warrant on Wednesday, July 15, on a charge of serious bodily injury to a child, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.

Authorities allege Hemphill administered meperidine, also known as Demerol, along with two other medications and nitrous oxide during an April 1 frenectomy at Cuddle Kids Dental to correct Aithana Rodriguez Arriaga’s tongue-tie.

The child, who was being treated by Hemphill, didn’t wake up following the procedure. Hemphill and a second dentist attempted CPR until medics arrived. The girl was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

A medical examiner determined that Aithana died from meperidine toxicity. A doctor told a detective that the dosage of meperidine found in Aithana’s system would be toxic for an adult, according to the affidavit.

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