Causes of Anesthesia Mistakes In Hospitals

Anesthesia is often the highest risk element of a surgical procedure. It is not widely known that a simple error in administering anesthesia can create serious lifelong medical problems for the patient. In some cases the mistakes can prove fatal.

Probable Causes of Anesthesia

Common areas where errors occur in the use of anesthesia include: not accounting for the height and weight of the patient, failing to carefully review the patient's records, lack of proper training for technicians, and fatigue of the medical staff attending to the patient.

Problems Associated With Anesthesia Errors

Improper administration of anesthesia can lead to low blood pressure or inadequate blood flow to major organs including the brain. Errors like these can have catastrophic consequences for the patient including: heart failure, stroke, mild or severe brain damage, paralysis, or death. Obviously, these problems are nearly always more severe than the initial medical condition the patient may have been trying to correct with surgery.

Anesthesia Blunders Don't Always Show Up In The Operating Room

Anesthesia mistakes can take place during the simplest dental procedure, during minor and major surgical procedures, and during childbirth if the mother chooses to have a cesarean section. The problems can occur in the waiting room prior to surgery, operating room, or even post surgery.

What To Do If You Or A Family Member Have Been Harmed By An Anesthesia Mistake

Most anesthesia mistakes are easily prevented. Those responsible for causing these extreme errors can be held accountable for the patient's injuries, suffering or death. If you or a member of your family is the victim of an anesthesia mistake, speak with a lawyer to get an appraisal of your situation. You may be entitled to receive compensation for any damages caused.

Insurance companies and their legal departments are heavily incentivised to keep anesthesia-related injury claims in check. Often, this can mean that an injured patient's rights are being violated. Cases involving anesthesiologist malpractice can be extremely complicated. It pays to speak with injury attorneys who dedicated their practice entirely to medical malpractice cases. The lawyers and their firms are in a good position to navigate the medical legal complex. They understand medical procedures, hospital processes, and operating room protocol. Additionally many law firms have medical professionals on staff to advise their legal team on a stream of pharmaceutical and medical nuances.

Another point to bear in mind is that injury victims (or their families) must seek legal guidance as soon as possible after the injury. It is far easier for a legal team to research and investigate all aspects of the incident including critical issues and personnel involved at the medical facility while the injury event is still fairly recent.