A Connecticut dentist, Rashmi Patel, is being charged with negligent homicide for the death of Judith Gan. His patient became unresponsive during an operation to remove 20 teeth and install dental implants. Patel is also being charged with a felony count of tampering with evidence.

Gan died in hospital last year and her husband is filing a lawsuit against Patel’s dental practice. State dental regulators said that Patel failed to respond adequately when Gan’s oxygen levels dropped during the surgery.

The State Dental Commission has suspended Patel’s license and for the past several months as been conducting a review of the case and of Patel’s practice. The report issued by the commission found that Patel ignored the patient’s signs of distress. Not only had her oxygen saturation level dropped but there had been changes in the color of her face and hands as well as concerning sounds such as gurgling and wheezing.

Patel’s dental assistants claim to have warned the dentist of Gan’s imminent danger, however, Patel do not halt his procedure. It was only once Gan began to flat line that they called 911. Patel tried to revive his patient before the ambulance came. 64-year-old Judith Gan was pronounced dead on arrival.

Gan had a troubled medical history which included two strokes over the previous two years and a heart attack some six months before the operation. She was taking medications that are believed to have interfered with the sedation.

The Dental Commission stated that Patel should not have been removing so many teeth at once, especially given Gan’s medical history.

Patel denies having committed any wrongdoing. His attorney, Paul Knag, said that the dentist “followed the standard of care” in a recently released statement. Dr. Patel has posted a $25,000 bail and is currently awaiting the trial.