A DENTIST could face disciplinary action from the General Medical Council after a five-year-old girl died at his surgery

An inquiry into the death of Karla Selley recommended that South Lancashire Health Authority considers taking action against dentist Michael Lane, of Lostock.

Karla, of Leyland, died in hospital shortly after an operation to have a baby tooth extracted.

Mr Lane, aged 42, of Lostock Lane, and anaesthetist Dr George Vanner, aged 62, of Bilsborrow, Lancashire, were both cleared of Karla's manslaughter at Preston Crown Court in February. Both denied the charges.

But the findings of an inquiry commissioned by the South Lancashire Health Authority has recommended the authority considers taking action with the General Dental Council and the General Medical Council.

Mr David Edmundson, chief executive of the Heath Authority, said he would consider taking action against Mr Lane over the next two weeks. Mr Edmundson said: "I need to take into consideration whether disciplinary action would hold up the processes of the General Medical Council."

The report said the health authority "acted within its powers and did all that it should have done to monitor the state of preparedness of the surgery to undertake dental general anaesthesia". Karla was brought to the Towngate Dental Surgery in Leyland by her mother Tracey Marsh in August 1999..

The practice was the only one within the health authority that gave general anaesthetics following guidelines issued in 1998.

But as Karla woke she began to choke and collapsed.

Investigations began following the collapse of the trial at Preston Crown Court in February.

An inspection of the surgery had been carried out by Dr Nigel Entwistle, the Dental Practice Adviser for the health authority, five months before Karla's death. He found a number of problems.

The inquiry revealed emergency use adrenaline was not available and resuscitation equipment was set up for adults.

Dr Entwistle was assured these problems would be sorted out but decided a second visit was necessary. Karla died before it could be arranged.

Christine Jackson, chairman of the Board of Inquiry added: "A number of questions had to be considered such as the timing of the inspection and its follow-up, the adequacy of the inspection and the competence of the inspector."

She said Dr Entwistle was respected and there was no question over his competence. The inquiry concluded the health authority and Dr Entwistle had done all they could to monitor the practice.

In a statement Mr Lane said yesterday: "It is inappropriate at this moment to make any comment due to the ongoing legal proceedings."