Santa Ana : Victim’s Mother Testifies in Dentist’s Civil Trial

Twenty-three-year-old Kim Andreasson was just beginning to overcome a series of threatening health problems when she died after dental surgery performed by Tony Protopappas in 1982, the dead woman’s mother testified Wednesday.

Ulla Isaksen, 55, told jurors that her daughter had stabilized after years of “constant” hospitalizations from age 13, when Kim’s chronic kidney failure, anemia, high blood pressure and lupus erythematosus were first diagnosed.

Isaksen was the last witness to testify in her wrongful-death lawsuit against Protopappas, who was convicted two years ago of second-degree murder in the death. The civil trial, seeking unspecified damages, is being heard before Superior Court Judge John J. Flynn Jr. in Santa Ana.

Kim’s adoptive father, Per Isaksen, testified Wednesday that after 10 “stormy” years of medical treatment, in 1982 “we felt like we were winning.”

Ulla Isaksen testified that while she waited during the 2 1/2-hour root-canal surgery at Protopappas’ clinic in Costa Mesa, she was unaware of any trouble until she heard sirens signaling the approach of paramedics who had been summoned after Andreasson developed breathing difficulty.

Hollis O. Dyer, Protopappas’ attorney, will begin his defense on Monday.

Isaksen’s lawyer, Neil Bahan, told jurors that Andreasson died as a result of a lethal combination of anesthetic drugs chosen and administered by Protopappas.

Dyer said at the start of the trial that he will call witnesses who will state that tests conducted after the woman’s death showed that her blood contained levels of potassium “incompatible with life.” Dyer said that patients with chronic kidney disease often show a high level of potassium in their blood.

Protopappas is bankrupt and in prison. At least 16 other alleged victims and survivors are claiming damages against the dentist in separate lawsuits.