COLUMBUS, Ohio (WOIO/Gray News) — The Ohio State Dental Board has permanently revoked the anesthesia permit of a dentist and suspended his dental license indefinitely following the death of a patient in 2023.
The board voted to take action against Dr. Faisal Quereshy.
His patient, 48-year-old Matthew Miller of Lorain County, died four days after he stopped breathing during a procedure at Quereshy’s practice, the Visage Surgical Institute in Medina.
Miller was Quereshy’s patient for what was described as a routine tooth extraction.
According to the board, Miller went to the Visage Surgical Institute in 2023 to have three teeth pulled.
Quereshy chose to perform the procedure under general anesthesia. However, within minutes, Miller stopped breathing and died at a hospital four days later.
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The dental board accused Quereshy of failing to have Miller cleared by a physician before the procedure.
The board also said Quereshy administered a series of narcotics, one after another, without pausing to confirm each was taking effect.
The board further accused Quereshy of not properly monitoring Miller while he was under anesthesia.
A hearing examiner who reviewed the evidence recommended suspending Quereshy’s anesthesia license for up to one year. She described the incident as “isolated” while agreeing that mistakes were made.
The board ultimately went further, voting for permanent revocation of the anesthesia permit.
The dental board said its decision was made this week in the interest of the public.
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“The board, in its expertise, has determined that suspension of the dental license and permanent revocation of the general anesthesia permit is necessary to adequately protect the public,” board member Dr. Wayne Wauligman said.
Board members said they determined that Quereshy failed to address Miller’s reported sleep apnea, changed Miller’s anesthesia records after surgery and failed to have Miller medically cleared before surgery.
Therefore, Quereshy’s disciplinary actions include his dental license being suspended for a minimum of 90 days, probation for a minimum of five years, not being able to treat patients or receive payments for services, not employing dentists or dental assistants, while having to complete continuing education courses in sleep apnea, ethics and record keeping.
“I’m deeply saddened by the events of August 4th, and that, even after the fact of performing 20,000 anesthesia procedures, that tragedy will forever remain etched in my mind and on the impact on that family,” Quereshy said. “My desire to be committed to serving the people of Ohio and educating our future professionals stands very strong in my mind, and I hope to continue that career.”
Quereshy’s attorney, Brian Gannon, pushed back on prior media coverage of the case.
“You or the public may have seen on media accounts, which I would say is one-sided, which did not have Dr. Quereshy’s input, and which is being driven, unfortunately, by personal injury attorneys who do have a vested account in the outcome of this,” Gannon said.
Assistant Attorney General Henry Appel argued the board should hold Quereshy to a higher standard given his credentials.
“Quereshy didn’t use a stethoscope to do an evaluation of the heart and lungs,” Appel said. “It’s almost laughable to say that someone with as much experience and education as Dr. Quereshy, frankly, that he is a head of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Center for training oral surgeons at Case Western.”
Quereshy has the right to appeal the board’s decision. He, along with his attorney, declined to comment following the hearing, citing pending litigation.
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