Estate Sues Manitoba Dentist, Says Anesthetic Hit a Blood Vessel in 23-Year-Old’s Death

Edited by Dentaltown staff

A 23-year-old went in to have her wisdom teeth removed. According to a new lawsuit, she began seizing and stopped breathing about four minutes after her dentist injected a local anesthetic.

Virginia Blatz died Nov. 27, 2024, after a procedure at Boundary Trails Dental Centre in Morden, Manitoba. Late last month, her father, Dulaney Blatz, filed a statement of claim in Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench as administrator of her estate. The suit names dentist Ronald David Janz, his dental corporation, and the corporation that operates the clinic.

The claim says Blatz was given fentanyl and midazolam intravenously before the procedure, and Janz administered articaine at about 9:20 a.m. Around 9:24 a.m., the filing says, she had two brief tonic-clonic seizures. She then stopped breathing and had no pulse. An ambulance took her to Boundary Trails Health Centre, where she was pronounced dead.

The estate claims she died from local anesthetic systemic toxicity, which occurs when anesthetic levels in the bloodstream climb too high. Her family has previously said an autopsy confirmed that cause and traced it to an inadvertent injection into a blood vessel, according to the Winnipeg Free Press.

The suit alleges that Janz injected the needle into a blood vessel instead of the target tissue. It also alleges that he used more articaine than an acceptable dose, did not aspirate to check for blood, and did not reposition the needle. The claim further alleges that he missed early signs of toxicity, delayed calling paramedics and giving oxygen, and failed to start or delayed antidote therapy. It says he did not explain the risks of combining the medications. It also faults him for not having a dental anesthesiologist administer the drugs and monitor Blatz, and for not offering the extraction in a hospital.

The clinic’s corporation faces its own list of allegations. According to the claim, it failed to train staff on the dangers of local anesthetic systemic toxicity, keep antidote therapy on site, put dosing controls in place, and set emergency protocols. The claim also alleges that oxygen was not readily available.

Blatz’s parents, siblings, and grandparents are seeking damages under Manitoba’s Fatal Accidents Act, plus funeral and other costs.

Janz, a dentist since 2015, now has restrictions on his license, according to the Manitoba Dental Association’s registry. He may administer local anesthetic only under supervision, and he is restricted from providing sedation services. The association opened an investigation in December 2024. In September, Blatz’s parents told CTV News the investigation was taking too long. Her father said she had “a perfectly healthy heart.” The association said it could not discuss a patient’s care but confirmed that restrictions had been placed on the dentist’s license while the process continues.

None of the allegations have been tested in court, and no defendant had filed a statement of defense as of Oct. 5. CBC News reached out to Janz and the corporation for comment. The family’s lawyer, Martin Pollock, did not return a call from the Free Press.

Sources:
Winnipeg Free Press, “Estate of woman who died from local anesthetic injected into blood vessel sues Morden dentist, his business, clinic,” Oct. 5, 2026: winnipegfreepress.com/estate-sues-morden-dentist
CBC News, “Family of Manitoba woman who died after dental procedure files lawsuit,” Oct. 5, 2026: cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/dental-procedure-death-lawsuit-morden
CTV News Winnipeg, “Lawsuit alleges negligence in death of woman, 23, after dental visit in Morden, Man.,” Oct. 6, 2026: ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/lawsuit-alleges-negligence-morden
CTV News Winnipeg, “Parents of Manitoba dental patient who died in 2024 feel investigation taking too long,” September 2026: ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/parents-feel-investigation-taking-too-long
Global News, “‘Very difficult time’: Woman dies after dental procedure in Manitoba, investigation launched,” Dec. 3, 2024: globalnews.ca/news/manitoba-dental-association-death