The death of any patient is a tragedy.  However, it is overkill.  The supporting material makes comments that are designed to support their petition, but are misleading.  The chance that the second death mentioned could have been prevented by these regulations is very remote.   A comment by one of the petitioners that says oxygen is only for non-breathing patients in many dental offices is undocumented and incorrect.

Dentists are under too many regulations already.  I find it ironic that I cannot give a flu shot, but people without my training are allowed to give them.  I cannot give an employee a hepatitis B vaccine shot.  If a rescue squad came to my office and I needed an emergency drug from their kit that I didn't have, I probably cannot have access to it.  After performing CPR for about 40 years, I find the classes to recertify mainly good for paperwork.  I've even had to correct instructors who have taught things incorrectly.

Dentists are trained and can appropriately respond to many emergencies, as well as finding medical problems and making appropriate referrals.  Current regulations on sedation would seem to cover the two incidents cited.  Comments by supporters of this petition that calling 911 isn't adequate is not fair.  When you call a physician's office, almost everyone has the recording that if this is an emergency tohang up and call 911, etc., in other words, don't come to see them.  This petition has the potential to place more advanced training requirements on dentists and their staffs than currently exist in medical offices.  Please dismiss it.