When you undergo a medical procedure that requires anesthesia, you are putting your life in the hands of the anesthesiologist and the medical team. Anesthesia errors can have devastating consequences for patients, including permanent brain damage, paralysis, and death. If you or someone you love has been harmed by an anesthesia error, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
At The Becker Law Firm, LPA, our anesthesia error lawyers represent the injured and the wronged in Cleveland and throughout Ohio. We have the experience, resources, and skills to handle even the most complex medical malpractice cases, and we are prepared to fight for you. Our team has successfully recovered millions of dollars for our clients, and we are ready to put our extensive experience to work for you.
Call 216-621-3000 or contact us online today to request a free, confidential consultation with one of our Cleveland anesthesia error attorneys.
What Are Anesthesia Errors?
Anesthesia errors are a type of medical malpractice that occur when an anesthesiologist, nurse anesthetist, or other medical professional makes a mistake during the administration of anesthesia. Anesthesia is a medication that is used to prevent patients from feeling pain during surgery or other medical procedures. It can be administered in several different ways, including through an IV, as a gas, or as an injection.
Some of the most common types of anesthesia errors include:
- Administering too much anesthesia: Anesthesia is a powerful medication, and too much can cause a patient to stop breathing, go into a coma, or die. Administering too much anesthesia is a common error that can occur when an anesthesiologist or other medical professional is not paying attention or is otherwise negligent.
- Administering too little anesthesia: Administering too little anesthesia can cause a patient to wake up during surgery, which can be extremely traumatic. It can also cause a patient to feel pain during surgery, which can be excruciating.
- Administering the wrong type of anesthesia: Different types of anesthesia are used for different types of procedures. Administering the wrong type of anesthesia can cause serious complications, including brain damage and death.
- Administering anesthesia to a patient who is allergic: Some patients are allergic to anesthesia. Administering anesthesia to a patient who is allergic can cause a severe allergic reaction, which can be life-threatening.
- Failure to properly monitor a patient during surgery: Anesthesia must be carefully monitored throughout the duration of a surgical procedure. Failure to do so can result in serious complications, including brain damage and death.
- Failure to properly intubate a patient: Intubation is the process of inserting a tube into a patient’s throat to help them breathe. If an anesthesiologist or other medical professional fails to properly intubate a patient, the patient can suffer a lack of oxygen to the brain, which can cause permanent brain damage or death.
Anesthesia errors can occur for a variety of reasons, including inadequate training, fatigue, inattention, and more. Regardless of the cause, if you or someone you love has been harmed by an anesthesia error, you may be entitled to compensation.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Anesthesia Errors?
The long-term effects of anesthesia errors can vary depending on the type and severity of the error, as well as how quickly the error was identified and corrected. In some cases, anesthesia errors can cause permanent brain damage, paralysis, and even death. In other cases, patients may suffer from temporary complications, such as cognitive impairments, memory loss, and more.
Some of the most common long-term effects of anesthesia errors include:
- Brain damage: When a patient does not receive enough oxygen to the brain during surgery, they can suffer permanent brain damage. This can result in cognitive impairments, memory loss, and more.
- Paralysis: If an anesthesiologist or other medical professional administers too much anesthesia, a patient can suffer paralysis. This can be temporary or permanent, depending on the severity of the error.
- Death: In the most severe cases, anesthesia errors can cause a patient to go into a coma or die.
Keep in mind that not all anesthesia errors result in long-term complications. In some cases, patients may suffer from temporary complications, such as cognitive impairments, memory loss, and more. Regardless of the severity of the error, if you or someone you love has been harmed by an anesthesia error, you may be entitled to compensation.
Who is Liable for Anesthesia Errors?
When an anesthesia error occurs, it is not always immediately clear who is liable for the patient’s injuries. In some cases, the anesthesiologist may be liable. In other cases, the hospital or medical facility may be liable. In still other cases, the manufacturer of the anesthesia medication may be liable.
Some of the most common parties that may be held liable for anesthesia errors include:
- Anesthesiologists: Anesthesiologists are medical doctors who specialize in anesthesia. They are responsible for administering anesthesia to patients and monitoring them throughout the duration of a surgical procedure. If an anesthesiologist makes a mistake, they may be held liable for the patient’s injuries.
- Nurse anesthetists: Nurse anesthetists are registered nurses who have received additional training in anesthesia. They are responsible for administering anesthesia to patients and monitoring them throughout the duration of a surgical procedure. If a nurse anesthetist makes a mistake, they may be held liable for the patient’s injuries.
- Hospitals and medical facilities: Hospitals and medical facilities have a duty to ensure that their patients receive a certain standard of care. If a hospital or medical facility fails to properly train their anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists, or if they fail to properly monitor their patients during surgery, they may be held liable for the patient’s injuries.
- Manufacturers of anesthesia medications: In some cases, anesthesia errors are caused by a defect in the anesthesia medication. If this is the case, the manufacturer of the medication may be held liable for the patient’s injuries.
In some cases, more than one party may be held liable for an anesthesia error. For example, if an anesthesiologist makes a mistake, the hospital or medical facility where the surgery took place may also be held liable for the patient’s injuries. An experienced anesthesia error lawyer can help you determine who is liable for your injuries and maximize your entitled compensation.
