Dentist Sentenced in Death of Patient

A retired dentist was sentenced Wednesday to spend a year under house arrest at his La Jolla home as a result of the death of a patient.

Dr. Roy Slack, 74, had been convicted of manslaughter in the death of the patient he had anesthetized. San Diego Municipal Judge John Thompson also placed Slack on five years probation and fined him $10,000.

Thompson ordered Slack, whose practice was in Pacific Beach, not to leave his home unless it was for medical treatment and warned him he would be jailed if he violated the conditions.

Slack’s house-arrest sentence stemmed from the dentist’s medical problems and his age. Thompson told Slack that the jail isn’t equipped to handle him.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert Madruga later told reporters that Slack apparently has suffered several strokes and has poor memory.

Thompson also ordered the retired dentist, who walked slowly in and out of court, not to practice dentistry again.

Slack pleaded no contest April 22 to involuntary manslaughter in the June 26, 1989, death of O’Neal Woods, 36, of San Diego. He was also charged with manslaughter in the June 9, 1988, death of Gloria Davis, 58, of San Diego, but this count was dropped in a plea bargain agreement.

Both patients were taken from Slack’s office to a hospital after suffering ill effects from anesthesia.

Relatives of both victims testified at the sentencing, and another woman also came forward to say her mother died 30 years ago in Slack’s office while undergoing dental work.

Thompson told the woman that he could not consider that allegation in sentencing Slack.

But the judge turned to Slack and said: “There’s no doubt in my mind, Dr. Slack, you were grossly negligent. You killed those individuals because of your negligence.”

Slack’s attorney, Peter Hughes, told the court that Slack “voluntarily” retired and urged the judge to consider the dentist’s medical history in deciding the sentence.

A deputy attorney general told Thompson that his office would be seeking to revoke Slack’s dental license on behalf of the California Dental Board even though Slack is not now practicing.

The judge also said he had read 42 letters on Slack’s behalf from friends and former patients.

A wrongful death suit has been filed against Slack by relatives of one victim.