VANCOUVER, Wash. (CN) – A patient's mouth was bleeding after oral surgery and after a dental assistant told him to “just swallow the blood,” he suffered massive blood loss, he claims in Clark County Superior Court.

Richard Schneider sued Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington Options, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. doing business as Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Permanente Dental Associates, P.C., for medical negligence.

After having oral surgery at Kaiser Permanente Salmon Creek Dental Office in Vancouver, Washington, Schneider had bleeding inside his mouth, according to the complaint.

Schneider called the Salmon Creek Dental Office that afternoon, May 19, 2017, and a dental assistant told him “just swallow the blood,” according to the complaint.

“Mr. Schneider followed this advice. After the phone call, Mr. Schneider went to sleep. He awoke early in the morning of May 20, 2017 and headed to the bathroom. However, Mr. Schneider passed out on the way to the bathroom due to blood loss. When he passed out, Mr. Schneider was unaware and not able to protect himself with his hands; he hit the floor with his chin,” he complaint states.

When he regained consciousness, Schneider called 911 and was taken to a hospital, then to another hospital, and then to a rehabilitation facility, according to the complaint.

“Mr. Schneider was diagnosed with massive blood loss anemia, right foot fractures, multiple left rib fractures, as well as other conditions including chin laceration and dental trauma,” it states.

Richard Schneider seeks general, special, exemplary and punitive damages, attorney fees, costs  and prejudgment interest. He is represented by J. William Savage in Portland, Oregon.