Dentist license suspended after 5-year-old slips into coma and dies

[OCT. 2, 2006]  CHICAGO -- On Friday, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation suspended the dental, controlled substance, sedation and specialty licenses of Hicham Riba, D.D.S. Daniel E. Bluthardt, director of the Division of Professional Regulation, signed the summary suspension order after a hearing Friday afternoon. The department has the authority to issue a summary suspension when it determines that the health and safety of the public may be in danger by the continued practice of a dentist.

The department acted less than one week after it learned that a 5-year-old patient of the dentist's was in a coma at Children's Memorial Hospital. The department's investigation included personal interviews and a comprehensive review of the records from the dentist, the hospital and the results of the autopsy, which was completed on Thursday. The investigation was completed Thursday evening and the findings were forwarded to the prosecution unit. The department's prosecutors argued on Friday afternoon that the case raised concerns about the safety of the general public and asked that Riba's licenses be immediately suspended.

By the action taken Friday, Riba's licenses are immediately suspended, and he is not allowed to practice dentistry in Illinois. His license will remain suspended pending further proceedings before the administrative law judge at the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Medical Disciplinary Board of the state of Illinois. A hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 13.

A copy of the petition for temporary suspension and the order are available at www.idfpr.com.

[Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation news release]