Donald Ryan was a dentist. Ryan had been in practice for 28 years, during which time he had seen between 35,000 to 45,000 patients. The vast majority of his patients were children, some of whom had been referred to him because they were difficult to treat.

D’Michael Bowen was an eight-year-old with an infected tooth. Another dentist had been unable to help Bowen because he refused to cooperate. Ryan was called and agreed to see Bowen immediately.