Between 40 and 50 million surgeries are conducted annually in the United States. With advances in medical technology, medical professionals can provide anesthesia safely and effectively to ensure that the surgery can be performed in its entirety without the patient waking up or experiencing pain. But even the best medical professionals make mistakes.
Administering anesthesia may come with complications if not done properly. The results can lead to serious damage and even death.
Medical malpractice cases involve medical mistakes made with intent, meaning the medical professional acted knowing that what they were doing may harm the patient. That intent may be obvious or discreet.
Knowing how anesthesia is supposed to be administered and what to look for in a potential anesthesia error is important in determining whether you can claim anesthesia malpractice. This article will cover some of the information you need to know if you think you’re a victim of anesthesia malpractice.
What is Anesthesia?
Anesthesia is used to help prevent pain in patients undergoing surgery. There are three different types of anesthesia used in modern medicine.
Local anesthesia is used to numb only the specific part of the body that is being operated on. This is typically used for less invasive medical procedures such as mole removal or a bone marrow biopsy.
Regional anesthesia numbs a larger area of the body that may experience regional pain. Examples of regional anesthesia include an epidural or a spinal block.
General anesthesia causes a patient to be completely unconscious for the duration of the procedure, making them unable to feel pain.
Anesthesia is usually administered by an anesthesiologist, a medical professional specially trained in anesthetics. Their training involves a full scope of how the patient will react to anesthesia, how much must be administered to be effective, and more. While under anesthesia, the patient will require continuous monitoring during the procedure.
Any number of medical professionals can make an error when it comes to anesthetics. While anesthesiologists can be responsible for making an error, doctors, nurses, and several other medical staffers can also be at fault if they are part of the team caring for the patient.
Types of Anesthesia Mistakes
Anesthesia errors can go well beyond the scope of one surgery or other medical procedure. The before, during, and after effects of anesthesia on a patient are at the hands of medical professionals. But everyone makes mistakes, even medical professionals.
Preoperative Anesthesia Errors
- Failing to educate the patient about the possible risks of the procedure
- Failing to review the patient’s medical history for potential anesthesia complications
- Failing to provide the patient with preoperative instructions
During Operation Anesthesia Errors
- Delaying anesthesia administration
- Administering the incorrect amount of anesthesia
- Administering the incorrect type of anesthesia
- Failing to monitor or administer surgical oxygen
- Failing to monitor a patient’s vitals
- Improper insertion of the intubation tube
- Using faulty equipment or the wrong equipment
- Failing to monitor or treat developing complications
Postoperative Anesthesia Errors
- Leaving a patient sedated beyond the prescribed time frame
- Leaving a sedated patient unattended
- Failing to provide postoperative instructions
Anesthesia Malpractice Complications
Anesthesia malpractice, like any form of medical malpractice, can result in severe and life-threatening complications. Some of the most serious complications that can arise from anesthesia errors include heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke, asphyxia, traumatic brain injury, coma, paralysis, and birth defects.
How to Prove Anesthesia Malpractice
All medical malpractice claims face a medical system that has the strong backing of their insurance company and the medical field. Therefore, even if your doctor or your medical team did, in fact, make an error involving anesthesia, you and your medical malpractice attorney are responsible for actually proving it. A doctor will not usually admit fault, as that would put their license, reputation, and area of practice at risk.
There are four key elements to proving medical malpractice:
- Duty of care: The relationship between the medical provider and patient has been established.
- Breach: There was a breach in the duty of care that was established.
- Injury: There was an injury or damage that occurred as a result.
- Causation: Injury or harm was a direct result of a breach in the established duty of care.
Turn to Attorney Steve Newman for Your Medical Malpractice or Personal Injury Case
Licensed to practice law in state and federal courts in both New York and New Jersey, Attorney Steve Newman has represented clients in all 50 states for over three decades and is prepared to represent you in winning your case.
Practicing law in medical malpractice, personal injury, construction litigation, and more, Steve Newman utilizes an extensive network of board-certified physicians to analyze whether medical malpractice occurred.
Contact the Law Offices of Steve Newman today for an attorney committed to you and your claim.
