In many cases, anesthesia errors are caused by negligence on the part of an anesthesiologist, another medical professional, a hospital, or even the manufacturers of anesthesia drugs and application devices.
Anesthesia is used to prevent a patient from experiencing pain during a surgical procedure. Even so, its use can have its own complications – especially when an anesthesia error occurs.
Someone who suffers from an anesthesia error might experience the following:
- Waking up during surgery
- Dementia
- Seizure
- Stroke
- Prolonged unconsciousness
- Brain injury
- Death
The practice of using anesthesia is never 100% safe, but capable technicians and medical care providers following the accepted standard of care can significantly reduce the risk of complications. They are also less likely to engage in negligence that can cause injury to the patient.
Common Anesthesia Errors
There are many recognized types of anesthesia errors, but some are more common than others. Regardless of the anesthesia error that injured you or a loved one, however, it may be possible to recover damages with a lawsuit when negligence was a key factor in causing the error.
Anesthesia Dosage Errors
Many anesthesia errors happen when too much or too little anesthesia is administered to a patient. This can happen when an anesthesiologist or doctor is inexperienced or carelessly conducts a procedure. Failing to monitor equipment or being unfamiliar with how to use certain devices can also cause anesthesia dosage errors.
Failure to Notice Side Effects & Monitor Vital Signs
When you are put under anesthesia, medical personnel are responsible for ensuring that you are OK. They do this by monitoring your vital signs with special equipment and looking for signs of complications, such as hypothermia and seizure.
When the medical professionals charged with your care are negligent in this regard, they may not notice signs that something is wrong soon enough. This can cause a patient’s death, but it more commonly causes serious injuries – such as brain and nerve injuries – that can result in lifelong disability.
Incorrect Administration of Anesthesia
Another common anesthesia error occurs from the incorrect administration of this drug. This happens when the correct drug is incorrectly administered, or the correct drug is incorrectly administered. Either way, the patient becomes the victim of an anesthesia error that can result in severe injury or death.
Were You or a Loved One Harmed by Medical Negligence?
We trust those in the medical care industry with our lives and the lives of our loved ones. At no point should anyone become a victim of medical negligence, but it happens every day. Fortunately, there are legal options available to recover damages incurred by negligence.
If you or a loved one suffered an anesthesia error, you can initiate legal action to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and other damages. If a loved one has died, damages may be available in a wrongful death claim.
We at the Law Office of David Kates are here to help you identify the legal options in your situation and take action. For more information about how we can help, send us a message and request a consultation.