ShyGuyInChicago
February 11th, 2011, 04:00 PM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/11/teen-dead-from-root-canal_n_822106.html?ref=tw
A routine dental procedure took the life of a teenager in Chicago's south suburbs Wednesday, as his shocked and outraged family tries to understand their loss.
Christopher Schutzius, age 17, lost a filling in January while eating a caramel. He went in to Dental Dreams on 12200 Western Ave. in Blue Island to have it replaced, and wound up having root canal surgery as well, the Chicago Tribune reports.
A few days later, he started feeling sick. He stayed home from school Monday, CBS Chicago reports, and took a turn for the worse on Tuesday, when he was rushed to the hospital. The following day, he died.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office said the cause of death was sepsis, a toxic infection resulting from the surgery.
But Schutzius's foster mother, Laura Serna, demanded more answers. From the Southtown Star:
"All they had to do was replace a filling. Why do a root canal?" she said, adding that Schutzius was not given a prescription for a painkiller or an antibiotic. WBBM Newsradio 780 has been told several dentists work at Dental Dreams. So far, there has been no comment.
"Dental Dreams? Dental nightmare," Serna said.
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/news/local/chibrknews-blue-island-teen-dies-after-root-canal,0,1345515.story
A 17-year-old boy from Blue Island died of an infection after he underwent root canal surgery, and his family says they believe the procedure may have been unnecessary.
Christopher Schutzius died of sepsis, a toxic infection, following the root canal, the Cook County medical examiner's office ruled following an autopsy Thursday. Schutzius was a senior at Eisenhower High School and was to graduate in May.
Schutzius was pronounced dead just after 11 a.m. Wednesday at MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island, more than a week after undergoing the dental procedure. The teen's foster family says he went to an office of a national dental chain in Blue Island on Feb. 1 to have a filling replaced.
Schutzius lost a filling while eating a piece of caramel candy, according to two foster siblings, Candace Garcia, 20, and Richard Garcia, 23. He went by himself to the dental office, Dental Dreams, to have the filling replace and ended up having a root canal that his family believes was unnecessary.
The family said Dental Dreams is a popular facility in Blue Island because it takes public aid and serves many low-income families.
"They seen he was by himself and he didn't have a parent with him and took advantage." Richard Garcia said. "They decided ... 'we'll give him a root canal instead of a filling ..."
Throughout the week Schutzius applied over-the-counter pain medication to his aching mouth and complained of not feeling well, Candace Garcia said.
On Tuesday, Schutzius was lying still on the couch and didn't seem like himself. The family called an ambulance and he was hospitalized. He died the next day.
"I wouldn't wish this on anybody," Candace Garcia said.
Richard Garcia agreed. "I hope this never happens to anyone else."
Sameera Hussain, the clinic's owner read a prepared statement but refused to answer questions.
"Dental Dreams provides affordable dental care to the Blue Island community. We learned today through media reports that a patient who was recently treated at our clinic has later passed away," Hussain said inside the clinic where nearly a dozen people were waiting to be examined.
"We were shocked to hear this news and express our deepest condolences to the family. We are conducting a thorough review of his treatment and we'll provide furthur details as they become available to us."
The boy's foster mother, Laura Serna, said she was too distraught to talk to reporters and had been advised by officials with the Department of Children and Family Services not to speak with reporters. Christopher Schutzius has been living with them for about three years.
Schutzius was a senior at Eisenhower High School and was preparing to graduate in May, his foster family said. He lived with the Serna/Garcia family along with his younger brother and sister. The 11- and 13-year old biological siblings were at the modest Blue Island house on Friday but said they didn't want to discuss their brother's sudden death.
"Chris was a wonderful kid," Candace Garcia said. "If you were feeling down he'd do whatever he could to make you laugh. He was our brother and we loved him."
Chris wanted to finish school and study to become an auto mechanic, Candace Garcia said. He and his siblings left their parents home years ago and were being raised by an aunt up until 3 years ago. Then they went to live with Serna, a close family friend who was also the children's Godmother.
Schutzius was placed in foster care in 2008, a spokesman for the Illinois DepartmentofChildren and FamilyServices said.
The state Department of Financial and ProfessionalRegulation investigates any medical procedure that results in an “adverse outcome,” said agency spokeswoman Susan Hofer, who said she could not discuss individual investigations.
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/02/11/teen-dies-after-root-canal-family-furious/
BLUE ISLAND, Ill. (CBS/WBBM) – A woman is raising questions about her foster son’s death after having oral surgery in a Blue Island dentist’s office.
As WBBM Newsradio 780’s Bernie Tafoya reports, Laura Serna said her 17-year-old foster son, Christopher Schutzius, lost a filling while eating a piece of a caramel late last month.
He went to Dental Dreams, 12200 Western Ave., Blue Island, on Feb. 1 to have the filling replaced and wound up having root canal surgery.
The Blue Island teen began feeling sick Saturday and stayed home from school Monday. On Tuesday night, his condition worsened and he was rushed to the hospital.
At 11:05 a.m. Wednesday, Schutzius died at MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island, police said. The cause of death was sepsis, a toxic infection he contracted after root canal surgery, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.
An autopsy determined the cause of Schutzius’ death was sepsis, a toxic infection he contracted after the root canal surgery.
Serna has questions regarding his death.
“All they had to do was replace a filling. Why do a root canal?” she said, adding that Schutzius was not given a prescription for a painkiller or an antibiotic.
WBBM Newsradio 780 has been told several dentists work at Dental Dreams. So far, there has been no comment.
“Dental Dreams? Dental nightmare,” Serna said.
Schutzius started feeling ill Saturday, “but his sister was sick, too, so we thought it was the flu,” Serna said.
He stayed overnight Saturday with his natural mother, Barbara Schutzius, in Alsip and returned to the Serna home Sunday night. On Monday, while watching TV with Serna, Schutzius said his body ached and his throat hurt, according to Serna.
She said he slept all day on the couch Tuesday and became more ill that night, leading her to call 911.
A senior at Eisenhower High School, Schutzius would have been 18 in April and would have graduated in May. Eisenhower Principal Gary Rauch said two dozen students have sought grief counseling over Schutzius’ death.
http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/news/3757577-418/blue-island-teen-dies-after-root-canal.html
In late January, Christopher Schutzius, 17, lost a filling while eating a piece of caramel.
He went to Dental Dreams, 12200 Western Ave., Blue Island, on Feb. 1 to have the filling replaced and wound up having root canal surgery.
The Blue Island teen began feeling sick Saturday and stayed home from school Monday. On Tuesday night, his condition worsened and he was rushed to the hospital.
At 11:05 a.m. Wednesday, Schutzius died at MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island, police said. The cause of death was sepsis, a toxic infection he contracted after root canal surgery, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
His mother, Barbara Schutzius, of Alsip, is reeling with grief. She said her son loved sports and looked forward to attending trade school to become a mechanic. She said he was easygoing, likable and friendly.
“Christopher was every mother’s dream child. He had very few complaints and got into very few arguments. He was a loving child. Everyone who knew Christopher loved being around him,” his mom said.
That sentiment was echoed by Laura Serna, Schutzius’ foster mother with whom he lived in the 2800 block of Minnesota Avenue.
“My husband is a truck driver, and whenever he’s home, Christopher would help him with chores. Christopher was even helping neighbors shovel when he felt sick. That’s the kind of kid he was,” Serna said.
Schutzius entered foster care in 2008, said Kendall Marlowe, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. He and a younger brother and sister have lived with the Serna family since 2008, Serna said.
A senior at Eisenhower High School, Schutzius would have been 18 in April and would have graduated in May. Eisenhower Principal Gary Rauch said two dozen students have sought grief counseling over Schutzius’ death.
Serna has questions regarding his death.
“All they had to do was replace a filling. Why do a root canal?” she said, adding that Schutzius was not given a prescription for a painkiller or an antibiotic.
A reporter’s visit to Dental Dreams found the waiting room crowded with dozens of patients about 5 p.m. Thursday. An office manager said someone would call to comment on the teen’s death, but no one did.
“Dental Dreams? Dental nightmare,” Serna said.
Schutzius started feeling ill Saturday, “but his sister was sick, too, so we thought it was the flu,” Serna said.
He stayed overnight Saturday with his mother in Alsip and returned to the Serna home Sunday night. On Monday, while watching TV with Serna, Schutzius said his body ached and his throat hurt, according to Serna.
She said he slept all day on the couch Tuesday and became more ill that night, leading her to call 911.
A routine dental procedure took the life of a teenager in Chicago's south suburbs Wednesday, as his shocked and outraged family tries to understand their loss.
Christopher Schutzius, age 17, lost a filling in January while eating a caramel. He went in to Dental Dreams on 12200 Western Ave. in Blue Island to have it replaced, and wound up having root canal surgery as well, the Chicago Tribune reports.
A few days later, he started feeling sick. He stayed home from school Monday, CBS Chicago reports, and took a turn for the worse on Tuesday, when he was rushed to the hospital. The following day, he died.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office said the cause of death was sepsis, a toxic infection resulting from the surgery.
But Schutzius's foster mother, Laura Serna, demanded more answers. From the Southtown Star:
"All they had to do was replace a filling. Why do a root canal?" she said, adding that Schutzius was not given a prescription for a painkiller or an antibiotic. WBBM Newsradio 780 has been told several dentists work at Dental Dreams. So far, there has been no comment.
"Dental Dreams? Dental nightmare," Serna said.
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/news/local/chibrknews-blue-island-teen-dies-after-root-canal,0,1345515.story
A 17-year-old boy from Blue Island died of an infection after he underwent root canal surgery, and his family says they believe the procedure may have been unnecessary.
Christopher Schutzius died of sepsis, a toxic infection, following the root canal, the Cook County medical examiner's office ruled following an autopsy Thursday. Schutzius was a senior at Eisenhower High School and was to graduate in May.
Schutzius was pronounced dead just after 11 a.m. Wednesday at MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island, more than a week after undergoing the dental procedure. The teen's foster family says he went to an office of a national dental chain in Blue Island on Feb. 1 to have a filling replaced.
Schutzius lost a filling while eating a piece of caramel candy, according to two foster siblings, Candace Garcia, 20, and Richard Garcia, 23. He went by himself to the dental office, Dental Dreams, to have the filling replace and ended up having a root canal that his family believes was unnecessary.
The family said Dental Dreams is a popular facility in Blue Island because it takes public aid and serves many low-income families.
"They seen he was by himself and he didn't have a parent with him and took advantage." Richard Garcia said. "They decided ... 'we'll give him a root canal instead of a filling ..."
Throughout the week Schutzius applied over-the-counter pain medication to his aching mouth and complained of not feeling well, Candace Garcia said.
On Tuesday, Schutzius was lying still on the couch and didn't seem like himself. The family called an ambulance and he was hospitalized. He died the next day.
"I wouldn't wish this on anybody," Candace Garcia said.
Richard Garcia agreed. "I hope this never happens to anyone else."
Sameera Hussain, the clinic's owner read a prepared statement but refused to answer questions.
"Dental Dreams provides affordable dental care to the Blue Island community. We learned today through media reports that a patient who was recently treated at our clinic has later passed away," Hussain said inside the clinic where nearly a dozen people were waiting to be examined.
"We were shocked to hear this news and express our deepest condolences to the family. We are conducting a thorough review of his treatment and we'll provide furthur details as they become available to us."
The boy's foster mother, Laura Serna, said she was too distraught to talk to reporters and had been advised by officials with the Department of Children and Family Services not to speak with reporters. Christopher Schutzius has been living with them for about three years.
Schutzius was a senior at Eisenhower High School and was preparing to graduate in May, his foster family said. He lived with the Serna/Garcia family along with his younger brother and sister. The 11- and 13-year old biological siblings were at the modest Blue Island house on Friday but said they didn't want to discuss their brother's sudden death.
"Chris was a wonderful kid," Candace Garcia said. "If you were feeling down he'd do whatever he could to make you laugh. He was our brother and we loved him."
Chris wanted to finish school and study to become an auto mechanic, Candace Garcia said. He and his siblings left their parents home years ago and were being raised by an aunt up until 3 years ago. Then they went to live with Serna, a close family friend who was also the children's Godmother.
Schutzius was placed in foster care in 2008, a spokesman for the Illinois DepartmentofChildren and FamilyServices said.
The state Department of Financial and ProfessionalRegulation investigates any medical procedure that results in an “adverse outcome,” said agency spokeswoman Susan Hofer, who said she could not discuss individual investigations.
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/02/11/teen-dies-after-root-canal-family-furious/
BLUE ISLAND, Ill. (CBS/WBBM) – A woman is raising questions about her foster son’s death after having oral surgery in a Blue Island dentist’s office.
As WBBM Newsradio 780’s Bernie Tafoya reports, Laura Serna said her 17-year-old foster son, Christopher Schutzius, lost a filling while eating a piece of a caramel late last month.
He went to Dental Dreams, 12200 Western Ave., Blue Island, on Feb. 1 to have the filling replaced and wound up having root canal surgery.
The Blue Island teen began feeling sick Saturday and stayed home from school Monday. On Tuesday night, his condition worsened and he was rushed to the hospital.
At 11:05 a.m. Wednesday, Schutzius died at MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island, police said. The cause of death was sepsis, a toxic infection he contracted after root canal surgery, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.
An autopsy determined the cause of Schutzius’ death was sepsis, a toxic infection he contracted after the root canal surgery.
Serna has questions regarding his death.
“All they had to do was replace a filling. Why do a root canal?” she said, adding that Schutzius was not given a prescription for a painkiller or an antibiotic.
WBBM Newsradio 780 has been told several dentists work at Dental Dreams. So far, there has been no comment.
“Dental Dreams? Dental nightmare,” Serna said.
Schutzius started feeling ill Saturday, “but his sister was sick, too, so we thought it was the flu,” Serna said.
He stayed overnight Saturday with his natural mother, Barbara Schutzius, in Alsip and returned to the Serna home Sunday night. On Monday, while watching TV with Serna, Schutzius said his body ached and his throat hurt, according to Serna.
She said he slept all day on the couch Tuesday and became more ill that night, leading her to call 911.
A senior at Eisenhower High School, Schutzius would have been 18 in April and would have graduated in May. Eisenhower Principal Gary Rauch said two dozen students have sought grief counseling over Schutzius’ death.
http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/news/3757577-418/blue-island-teen-dies-after-root-canal.html
In late January, Christopher Schutzius, 17, lost a filling while eating a piece of caramel.
He went to Dental Dreams, 12200 Western Ave., Blue Island, on Feb. 1 to have the filling replaced and wound up having root canal surgery.
The Blue Island teen began feeling sick Saturday and stayed home from school Monday. On Tuesday night, his condition worsened and he was rushed to the hospital.
At 11:05 a.m. Wednesday, Schutzius died at MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island, police said. The cause of death was sepsis, a toxic infection he contracted after root canal surgery, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
His mother, Barbara Schutzius, of Alsip, is reeling with grief. She said her son loved sports and looked forward to attending trade school to become a mechanic. She said he was easygoing, likable and friendly.
“Christopher was every mother’s dream child. He had very few complaints and got into very few arguments. He was a loving child. Everyone who knew Christopher loved being around him,” his mom said.
That sentiment was echoed by Laura Serna, Schutzius’ foster mother with whom he lived in the 2800 block of Minnesota Avenue.
“My husband is a truck driver, and whenever he’s home, Christopher would help him with chores. Christopher was even helping neighbors shovel when he felt sick. That’s the kind of kid he was,” Serna said.
Schutzius entered foster care in 2008, said Kendall Marlowe, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. He and a younger brother and sister have lived with the Serna family since 2008, Serna said.
A senior at Eisenhower High School, Schutzius would have been 18 in April and would have graduated in May. Eisenhower Principal Gary Rauch said two dozen students have sought grief counseling over Schutzius’ death.
Serna has questions regarding his death.
“All they had to do was replace a filling. Why do a root canal?” she said, adding that Schutzius was not given a prescription for a painkiller or an antibiotic.
A reporter’s visit to Dental Dreams found the waiting room crowded with dozens of patients about 5 p.m. Thursday. An office manager said someone would call to comment on the teen’s death, but no one did.
“Dental Dreams? Dental nightmare,” Serna said.
Schutzius started feeling ill Saturday, “but his sister was sick, too, so we thought it was the flu,” Serna said.
He stayed overnight Saturday with his mother in Alsip and returned to the Serna home Sunday night. On Monday, while watching TV with Serna, Schutzius said his body ached and his throat hurt, according to Serna.
She said he slept all day on the couch Tuesday and became more ill that night, leading her to call 911.