In a distressing turn of events, Maria Lugo Querales, a Miami woman, is grappling with severe brain damage and requires round-the-clock care after a dental procedure in Marble Falls, Texas, went wrong on May 10, 2022. The lawsuit, brought forth by Lugo’s husband, Luis Espana, points fingers at Dr. Jerry Teague, an anesthesiologist at the Texas clinic, for allegedly administering an excessive dose of fentanyl during what the lawsuit deems an “unnecessary” dental surgery.
The legal action extends beyond Dr. Teague to include other dentists involved in the procedure, namely Dr. Lane Freeman and Dr. Stuart Nunnally, as well as their clinic, Nunnally, Freeman, and Owens.
Lugo’s ordeal began when she initially sought dental treatment in Florida for a procedure involving alleged ‘cavitations’ and the extraction of an asymptomatic root canal-treated tooth. The surgery, which involved the administration of fentanyl, midazolam, and lidocaine, took a catastrophic turn under Dr. Teague’s care.
The lawsuit contends that Dr. Teague, diagnosed with cancer and purportedly with less than a year to live, administered anesthesia drugs without obtaining Lugo’s informed consent and neglected to intubate her, leading to an overdose on the anesthesia drugs. Consequently, the scheduled dental surgery was abruptly canceled, and Lugo was swiftly transported to St. David’s Medical Center in Austin.
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Currently residing in a Florida neurological rehabilitation facility, Lugo is reliant on a tracheotomy for breathing and a feeding tube for sustenance. The lawsuit reveals a troubling history surrounding Dr. Teague, including a previous suspension and a subsequent ban from practicing medicine. Two weeks after the ill-fated procedure, Dr. Teague succumbed to cancer at the age of 70. The legal document further alleges that he had previously tested positive for fentanyl and midazolam in a 2016 hair follicle test, leading to his suspension. Despite this suspension, Dr. Teague was inexplicably hired by the Marble Falls clinic in 2019.
This grim saga underscores the profound consequences of alleged negligence within the medical profession. The court filing unveils a shocking revelation that Lugo’s decision to seek treatment at the Texas clinic was influenced by a YouTube video featuring Dr. Ludwig Johnson, an Instagram influencer boasting 1.9 million followers who endorsed the Austin-area practice.
In a bid for justice, Luis Espana is seeking unspecified damages from the dental clinic after reaching a confidential settlement with Teague’s estate last month. The case not only highlights the personal tragedy endured by Maria Lugo Querales and her family but also raises pressing questions about oversight and accountability in the hiring practices of medical institutions.
As this legal battle unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency, informed consent, and thorough vetting within the medical community to prevent such heart-wrenching incidents from occurring in the future.
