Anesthesia is often used during medical procedures and surgery to provide pain control for the patient. As with any other medical specialty, anesthesiologists are responsible for the health and safety of the patient they serve. However, anesthesia errors do occur and can be potentially more dangerous than even errors made in the surgery itself.
Some of the possible results of an anesthesia error include brain damage, permanent disability, or in the most severe cases, death. Errors that may occur in the administration of anesthesia include the following:
- Overdose: The possibility does exist that an anesthesiologist will administer too high a dose of the anesthesia to a patient. The effects of such an overdose can be deadly or can cause permanent injury to the patient.
- Intubation errors: Improperly inserting a tube into a patient’s trachea (which is used to help the patient breathe) or using faulty equipment can cause injury.
- Monitoring errors: The failure to properly monitor a patient’s vital signs while under anesthesia can result in missed warning signs that the patient is having an adverse reaction to the medicine or is being given too much or too little.
Such errors can sometimes be attributed to negligence or incompetence, resulting in a medical malpractice case. However, you must establish that the anesthesiologist or other medical professional was negligent in administering anesthesia and/or monitoring your well-being.
Do I Have a Medical Malpractice Case for an Anesthesia Error?
While human error can occur in any area of health care, and is not always a malpractice scenario, sometimes professionals are distracted, poorly trained, or lacking in necessary skills. In such cases, incompetence or negligence may be a factor in the anesthesia error—and if you’ve suffered as a result, you may be eligible for compensation to help offset expenses or pain and suffering you’ve endured.
If you feel that any of the following situations apply, you might have a viable medical malpractice case.
- You’ve suffered lasting side effects directly linked to an anesthesia error: If you’ve suffered brain damage, physical injury, or have lost a loved one to an anesthesia mistake, you could be entitled to compensation.
- You feel that you were misinformed of the risks associated with anesthesia: You should have received specific instructions prior to your surgical procedure. These instructions could include information regarding how long to abstain from food or drinks or to avoid taking other medications.
- The anesthesiologist or doctor overlooked something in your medical history: It is the responsibility of your medical team to know your medical history. Maybe you had a specific life-threatening allergy that was ignored or your history of high blood pressure was unmonitored.
What Can I Do If I’m the Victim of Anesthesia Errors?
If you feel that you are entitled to reimbursement for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages or lost earning potential related to a condition that is the result of an anesthesia error, seek the assistance of an attorney who is familiar with medical malpractice cases.
Contact a reputable firm and ask for a consultation. Gather all related medical documents to which you have access, medical bills, and any other supporting evidence you’ve been able to collect and let your attorney review everything. A malpractice attorney will be able to guide you through every step of filing a claim against your medical team and will manage your case to work towards a successful outcome.
Call Snyder and Wenner, PC in Phoenix for Help with Your Case
If you believe you were the victim of medical malpractice due to an anesthesia error in Phoenix, call Snyder & Wenner, P.C. today at 602-224-0005 to set up a free consultation to discuss your case with a medical malpractice attorney.