Dentist’s License Revoked in ’97 Death of 4-Year-Old

The state has revoked the license of one of the dentists involved in a 1997 incident in which a 4-year-old patient died at a Santa Ana dental office.

The action, which marks the first punitive steps taken by the state Board of Dental Examiners on the case, comes as prosecutors prepare for a criminal trial against the other treating dentist in the incident.

On Aug. 4, 1997, Javier Villa of Santa Ana stopped breathing after being given an oral sedative at the Megdal Dental Clinic. He later died at UCI Medical Center in Orange.

The 13-member state board voted to ban Dr. Miguel Angel Garcia, who was the managing dentist at the clinic, from practicing dentistry in the future.

According to the 30-page decision, Garcia was guilty of incompetence, gross negligence and unprofessional conduct in his treatment of Villa.

Garcia administered the sedative to the child, then left the room, according to the decision.

Members of the state board charged Garcia with giving the child an amount of sedative far in excess of what should be given for his weight and age.

After Villa was rushed to the hospital, Garcia tried to cover up his role by falsifying the amount of sedative given to the boy and instructing his assistants to lie about the amount, according to the board’s decision.

An administrative hearing for Dr. Gabriella Pham, who is facing criminal charges stemming from the case, is planned for June, said supervising investigator John Harai of the dental board’s southern regional office in Tustin.

The board’s decision is effective May 9. Garcia, who is now practicing in Baldwin Park, has the option of appealing.