Anesthesia Error Lawsuit Help
Although anesthesia is administered routinely and safely to patients undergoing surgery and other medical procedures, anesthesia errors do occur. The life-altering and financial consequences of these errors to both the patient and family can be devastating.
Anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, and other medical care providers are required to provide a certain level of care to their patients when administering anesthesia. When a deviation in the accepted standard of care occurs, and the patient suffers an injury or death, anesthesia medical malpractice may have occurred. The negligent medical care provider in this instance may be held liable for the resulting injuries.
Anesthesia Error and Negligence
Anesthesia medical malpractice can occur before (for example, during a pre-anesthesia evaluation), during, or after the administration of an anesthetic. Establishing negligence requires a careful review of your hospital records, and the supporting opinion of an expert that a deviation from the standard of care has occurred.
Causes of anesthesia error that can result in medical negligence may include:
- Administration of the wrong drug
- Administration of an incorrect anesthesia dose
- Failure to follow drug labeling
- Administration of anesthesia to an allergic patient
- Failure to properly monitor patient
- Use of defective medical equipment
- Failure to properly intubate a patient
- Failure to properly administer oxygen during surgery or react to oxygenation emergencies
- Failure to properly inform a patient
Injuries Related to Anesthesia Negligence
Anesthesia is administered to reduce or prevent pain. It is generally divided into four categories: general anesthesia – the patient is asleep and unable to feel pain; regional anesthesia – blocks pain to a certain area of the body, for example, the use of an epidural during childbirth; local anesthesia – numbs a small, specific area of the body; and conscious or intravenous sedation – uses both a mild sedative and a pain medication.
Injuries related to anesthesia error can include:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Brain injury
- Coma
- Respiratory failure
- Death
- Paralysis
- Anaphylaxis (allergic reaction to anesthesia)
- Spinal cord or nerve damage
- Spinal cord infarction
- Bleeding around the spinal cord (spinal cord hematoma)
- Spinal infection, abscess, or meningitis
- Aspiration pneumonia
- Embolism
- Anesthesia awareness – patient is aware of pain during the surgery, but is unable to communicate with the doctor.
Compensation for Anesthesia Medical Malpractice
As the victim of anesthesia medical malpractice you may have the right to be compensated for your past and future medical bills, lost wages, loss of future earnings, and pain and suffering. If you have lost a loved one, you may be entitled to compensation for the loss of companionship, guidance, and economic loss.
Contact the Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg for a Free Medical Malpractice Anesthesia Lawsuit Case Evaluation
For 30 years the Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg has represented the seriously injured with personal injury recoveries totaling over $800 million on behalf of the firm’s clients. Let us help you take the first steps towards seeking the compensation that you deserve.
If you or a family member has been injured as a result of an anesthesia error, and you have a question regarding your legal rights, you can request a free medical malpractice lawsuit case evaluation from our firm by selecting Anesthesia Error Lawsuit Evaluation. You can also contact us 24/7, toll free at 877-934-6274.
