Toddler crushed to death by the same chiropractic table his mother was strapped to as she screamed for help

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 1:44 PM on 11th June 2011

A toddler has been crushed to death by a medical table in a chiropractor's office while his mother was strapped to it screaming for help.

The mother and her 18-month-old son were at First Chiropractic in Shoreview, Ramsey County, Minnesota, when the staff left them unattended.

Benjamin Bryan Newton crawled under the electrical spine therapy table and accidentally pushed a button which brought it down on top of him.

A stock image of the Triton DTS TRT-600 chiropractic machine which crushed Benjamin Bryan Newton to death

Amy Elizabeth Newton, 27, of Moundsview, screamed for help but by the time clinic employees rushed to the room, raised the table and began CPR on the boy, it was too late.

The child suffered head trauma and was taken to the Region's Hospital by paramedics. He was pronounced dead less than an hour after the incident occurred.

Two of her other children, also under the age of four, were also in the room.

Sheriff's spokesman Randy Gustafson said that they are viewing this incident as 'a tragic accident and does not anticipate any criminal charges' at this time.

He said that when Benjamin became caught, 'she screamed to get the attention of the staff there, who came in', Mr Gustafson said.

One leading chiropractic educator told the Star Tribune that her school's students are taught that a doctor or other clinic employee does not need to be with the patient during the entire time of treatment on this table or similar medical devices.

Tragedy: The toddler was crushed to death as his mother screamed for help at First Chiropractic in Shoreview, Minnesota

College of Chiropractic Dean Renee DeVries said: 'It's completely appropriate to leave the patient unattended for the time of treatment on a traction machine or other moving machines.

'People don't have to stand there and watch the machine move back and forth.'

Mr Gustafson said the mother had received care at the clinic several times before Thursday's incident. He said the initial investigation found that clinic employees do not always remain in the treatment room.

'This is kind of like standard operating procedure,' he said. 'It wasn't that out of the ordinary to leave people unattended for a few moments.'

He added: 'In hindsight, you go, it's got red flags everywhere.'

The clinic's doctor is Lowell Magelssen. He is licensed by the state Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The board's website lists no disciplinary action against him.

Mr Gustafson identified the equipment as a Triton DTS TRT-600, which weighs about 300 pounds.