Final photo of man killed during routine dental procedure resurfaces as family settles wrongful death suit
Swanson was placed on life support after suffering a brain injury and died on March 10, 2023. Facebook
A poignant selfie taken by an Arizona man just hours before he suffered a fatal brain injury during a routine dental implant procedure has come back into focus as his parents recently settled his wrongful death lawsuit.
Derek Swanson, 40, snapped a photo of himself smiling in a dentist’s chair on March 3, 2023, captioning it: “Yesterday, new car. Today, implant! Fun never stops.”
An avid gym-goer, Swanson had been looking forward to receiving a long-delayed dental implant. He underwent the procedure at Scottsdale Facial and Oral Surgery but never regained consciousness after complications with anesthesia. He was placed on life support following a brain injury and passed away on March 10, 2023, according to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner.
“He was so excited. He had fixed a lot of teeth, and they were looking really nice,” his mother, Brenda Swanson, told ABC15. She recounted being with her son on the day of the surgery, waiting anxiously in the lobby.
“They called Derek back, and that I won’t forget. He turned around, gave me a wink, and said, ‘love you,’ and walked back,” she said. “I just kept waiting and waiting, and Derek wasn’t coming out.”
Brenda and Bill Swanson filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Dr. Derek Lamb and the Scottsdale clinic, which was settled this week for an undisclosed amount.
The lawsuit claimed that errors during anesthesia deprived Derek of oxygen, leading to his fatal brain injury.
In addition to seeking accountability, the Swansons hope to change Arizona law to require both a dentist and an anesthetist to be present during dental surgeries. Currently, dentists can perform surgery and administer anesthesia alone if they hold the proper state permit.
“We want to make sure no other family has to go through what we have,” Swanson said. “This is something we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.”
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