Anesthesia is a critical procedure during surgery. An anesthesiologist administers drugs to patients undergoing invasive surgery to keep them unconscious and relaxed and make the process as pain-free as possible.
To achieve this, they’ll start by assessing your health and vitals to ensure a safe procedure, as well as determine the right amount of medication to use. The anesthesiologist is also responsible for monitoring your health during and after the surgery so that nothing goes wrong. Should anything happen, the anesthesiologist should be on standby to provide emergency care.
Unfortunately, anesthesia errors are quite common, and even minor action, or lack thereof, can cause irreversible damage to a patient. If this has happened to you or your loved one, you shouldn’t have to suffer the consequences alone. There are civil claims that you can lodge against the anesthesiologist, doctors, and other responsible parties to pursue compensation for your losses.
Common Causes of Anesthesia Errors
Sadly, a bigger percent of anesthesia errors occur due to human-related factors. An anesthesiologist may be responsible for your injuries if they result from causes like:
- Insufficient anesthesia
- Anesthesia overdose
- Failure to monitor vital signs
- Communication errors during handoffs
- Allergic reactions
- Intubation errors
- Medication errors
- And so on
Medical Malpractice Lawsuit for Anesthesia Errors
In such cases, determining whether your injury was caused by an anesthesia error is the first step to filing any type of civil claim. This stage of the investigation might need an expert health provider to ascertain that the anesthesiologist deviated from the standard care required in such a situation.
Partnering with a medical malpractice lawyer means that you get all these resources under one roof. Many law firms have a dedicated healthcare expert who they consult to build the strongest cases possible.
Your burden will be to prove that the anesthesiologist made an error or breached their standard duty of care. An attorney can present evidence to show that a reasonable anesthesiologist would’ve acted differently under similar circumstances.
In Case of a Fatality After an Anesthesia Error
Anesthesia errors are so serious that they can cause a fatality, too. In that case, the victim’s survivors or estate representatives will be filing a wrongful death claim against the anesthesiologist or healthcare institution.
Your attorney will compound both damages that you’ve suffered as the deceased’s dependents, as well as those that the victim suffered before they died. These include:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Lost income
- Loss of companionship and parental guidance
- Lost services that the deceased provided
- Medical expenses for the decedent
- Others
Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer to File a Claim
Have you suffered injuries or other damages from an anesthesia error during surgery or in another setting? Fighting for compensation against your anesthesiologist or hospital can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.
At Lane Brown, LLC, we help victims of anesthesia errors by investigating their cases with an expert and gathering evidence to prove fault and liability. Call us at 312-332-1400 or fill out the contact form below to schedule a consultation with a medical malpractice attorney.
