Anesthesia Mistakes and Medical Malpractice Claims in Illinois

 Posted on July 05, 2022 in Medical Malpractice

Anesthesia has revolutionized modern medicine and made it possible for millions of people to undergo surgery pain-free. Unfortunately, anesthesia is also not without risk. Negligent medical providers who make anesthesia mistakes can cause devastating and fatal injuries. If you or someone you care about was harmed by an anesthesia mistake, you may be able to take legal action against the responsible party.

Medical Negligence During Surgery

Any surgical procedure carries some risk. However, competent medical providers can mitigate this risk to almost zero. Unfortunately, understaffing, inadequate training and education, poor communication, and simple carelessness increase the chances of surgical complications tremendously.

Anesthesia malpractice can occur for nearly countless reasons, including:

• Insufficient review of the patient’s medical history, allergies, and medical problems
• Lack of communication between medical staff
• Drug interactions caused by a dangerous combination of anesthesia and other medications
• Failure to recognize and properly treat anesthesia-related complications
• Improper techniques or misuse of equipment
• Improper intubation
• Providing a patient with too much or too little anesthesia
• Delaying the delivery of anesthesia
• Keeping the patient under sedation for too long
• Defective medical equipment

The party who is legally responsible for an anesthesia mistake varies from situation to situation.  Often, the anesthesiologist is the at-fault party. However, if the issue was caused by defective piece of equipment, the company that designed, manufactured, or sold the defective equipment may be at fault. If the issue stemmed from an administrative error, the hospital could be liable.

Consequences of an Anesthesia Error

Anesthesia mistakes can lead to a wide range of dramatic consequences. When a patient does not receive enough oxygen, brain damage can occur within minutes. If the patient survives, he or she may be left with significant, permanent impairment. Pneumonia, tooth damage, stroke, nerve damage, blood clots, and heart attack are all associated with anesthesia mistakes.

Anesthesia Malpractice Claims

Individuals who are harmed by an anesthesia mistake may be able to bring a medical malpractice claim against the liable party. If a patient dies because of an anesthesia mistake, his or her family member may be able to act as a representative and file a claim on the deceased person’s behalf. Damages in an anesthesia malpractice claim vary. Victims may be entitled to financial compensation for medical bills and future medical care needed because of the anesthesia injury, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

Contact a Rockford Medical Malpractice Lawyer for Help

If you or someone close to you was harmed by negligent care during surgery, contact Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Injury Law. Our Winnebago County medical malpractice attorneys can advocate on your behalf and help you hold the at-fault party accountable. Call 815-215-7561 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6545954/