The state jurors in the manslaughter trial of former Kailua dentist Lilly Geyer deliberated for about 2-1/2 hours Monday without a verdict before going home for the day. They were scheduled resume their deliberations this morning.
Geyer, 41, is accused of causing the death of Finley Boyle one month after the 3-year-old girl went to Geyer’s Family Dentistry for Children on Dec. 3, 2013, to have baby root canals performed on four of her teeth. Boyle stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest during the procedure. The Honolulu Medical Examiner says Boyle died from an
infection caused by the breathing tube that was administered for life support.
The state says Geyer is guilty of manslaughter for recklessly causing Boyle’s death by directing her dental assistant to administer the sedative drugs that state expert witnesses
testified caused the girl to stop breathing.
Deputy State Attorney General Michael Parrish told the jurors in closing
arguments Monday that Geyer also failed to get medical help after Boyle stopped breathing, which makes Geyer guilty of assault, for causing Boyle’s brain damage, and manslaughter for the girl’s later death.
The dental assistant who administered the drugs is not charged with any crimes. She had testified that when she asked Geyer about getting help, Geyer told her no. Geyer’s other dental assistant testified that Geyer never prevented any of them from getting help. Geyer testified that she was the one who directed one assistant to get help and the other to call 911.
Defense expert witnesses testified that it was not the sedative drugs that caused Boyle to stop breathing, but the sudden, temporary closing of her vocal cords called laryngospasm. They said the condition was the result of the lingering effects of an upper respiratory infection.
Geyer testified she never would have had Boyle sedated had she known of the girl’s infection. Boyle’s mother, Ashley Puleo, never disclosed it to Geyer.
After Boyle went into cardiac arrest, Puleo told doctors that her daughter had a residual cough from the infection. She also told a member of the city ambulance crew that transported Boyle to Castle Medical Center that she had given her daughter medication for the cough on the morning of the dental procedure.
Parrish had told the grand jury that indicted Geyer and the trial jury in opening statements that Geyer’s state license to dispense and administer drugs was expired at the time of the Dec. 3, 2013, procedure. He had charged Geyer, however, with dispensing drugs without a prescription.
Circuit Judge Paul B.K. Wong dismissed the charges after the state failed to present evidence in support.