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Girl's Death Hastened by Fear of Dentists

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 16, 2009 9:34 PM CST
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(Newser) – A British girl who died in 2005 from dehydration and starvation suffered from a severe fear of dentists that kept her from eating, the BBC reports. Sophie Waller was in and out of the hospital after she refused to eat when teeth came lose, but medical professionals mislaid her case. The child, who appeared to be recovering after the teeth were pulled, never received a follow-up examination and died at home.

The hospital apologized to the girl’s family after an inquest made clear the facts of the case. “Everyone involved in Sophie's care was saddened by her tragic death. We would like to apologize to her family,” a hospital official said. “This was a very unusual case. We have conducted a review of her care and are carrying out recommendations.” Before leaving the hospital, Waller’s fear was so great she had to be fed by tube.

A dental appointment.
A dental appointment.   (AP Photo)
Janet and Richard Waller are seen after a coroner's inquest into the death of their 8-year-old daughter Sophie, in Truro, England.
Janet and Richard Waller are seen after a coroner's inquest into the death of their 8-year-old daughter Sophie, in Truro, England.   (AP Photo)
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No words can express how we have felt and still feel. The only justification for Sophie's death is that procedures have and will be changed and will hopefully save another child's life.
- Waller family statement

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Guest
Feb 18, 2010 2:51 AM CST
Obviously you do not suffer from a phobia. Seeing your child cry so hard they can't breath, choking on their own tears, suffer from panic and anxiety attacks not because they just don't want to go to the dentist, but because they truly are afraid will make you reconsider forcing them to go. How can you possibly think that telling someone to suck it up solves the problem. It is a serious mental disorder, not something that can easily be treated by being told to snap out of it. Unless you are educated on what a phobia is, perhaps you shouldn't ignorantly be giving advice to those who suffer from it.
Shannonals
Feb 17, 2009 2:42 AM CST
How is it that school officials weren't aware of this?
Jojo
Feb 16, 2009 10:41 PM CST
Lovely, another case of children making grown up decisions, like whether or not to go to the dentist. It says "the CHILD" so I am assuming she was under 18? How could a parent watch a child get tube fed instead of forcing them to go to the dentist?

Waller had "psychological syndrome"
Sky News

Care 'below standards': hospital official
Times (UK)

On dental phobia, a widespread ailment
Wikipedia

 
starvation • inquest • dentists • Britain • hospitalization • kidney failure • phobias • dehydration

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