WINTER PARK, Fla., May 22 (UPI) -- A Florida dentist has surrendered his license after two instances of dropping a dental tool down the throat of a patient, officials said.
Wesley Meyers, 69, surrendered his license Friday, nearly four years after he dropped a tool down the throat of an elderly patient who later died, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
Myers sold his business last year and hasn't practiced dentistry since, his attorney said. Myers appeared before the Florida Board of Dentistry Friday, where he faced complaints about his care of 90-year-old Charles K. Gaal Jr.
During a two-year period, Meyers and his staff twice dropped dental tools down Gaal's throat. The first tool was safely removed from his large intestine and surgery was needed to recover the second tool from Gaal's lung in 2007.
Gaal later died. Doctors said he never completely recovered from the surgery to remove a small wrench he inhaled when Myers dropped it down his throat.
Myers was fined $17,000 by the Board of Dentistry in 2008 and was required to pay $10,000 for the cost of the state's investigation. He was also prohibited from performing more dental-implant procedures until he underwent additional training.
In 2010, Gaal's children sued Meyers in civil court.
