Anesthesia Errors
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Pittsburgh Anesthesia Negligence Attorneys
A failure on the part of an anesthesiologist or other medical professional to properly manage patients who undergo anesthesia may constitute medical malpractice. A medical malpractice attorney with experience in anesthesia error cases can help you get the answers and justice you deserve.
Anesthesiologist Errors FAQ
Many modern medical procedures rely upon the proper administration of anesthesia. These include local treatments that mask the sense of pain in a specific area of the body and general anesthesia where a patient loses consciousness. The doctors that administer anesthesia medications must be sure to use proper doses and monitor a patient’s response to anesthesia, including vital signs like blood pressure and heart rate. Unfortunately, overdoses can result in significant injuries or even death.
In some situations, failures on the part of doctors to properly administer anesthesia may amount to medical malpractice. If a doctor makes an error that falls below the acceptable standard of care, this is considered medical malpractice and they are liable to provide compensation for the full extent of your losses.
Our legal consultations are always free unless we recover money for you. During the course of our investigation into your medical malpractice claim, we advance any costs that we deem necessary in the proper handling of your case. If we do not recover money for you, you do not have to return any of the costs incurred associated with your case.
This is called the Contingent Fee.
Contingent fees make it possible for anyone to hire only the very best lawyer to decide if there are grounds for a claim, without paying for that advice. More importantly, it gives everyone access to the justice system and representation equal to the best that insurance companies, doctors, and other defendants can hire.
The law limits the amount of time you have in which to file a medical malpractice case in Pennsylvania.
Statute of Limitations: You typically have two years from the date of injury to file a medical malpractice case in Pennsylvania.
Minors Tolling Statute: In a case where the victim is a child (under 18), the statute of limitations does not apply until the child reaches 18. This means that a claim must be filed before the child turns 20.
Discovery Rule: If the injury is not discovered immediately the discovery rule may extend the amount of time in which you can file your claim.
In many medical malpractice cases a settlement is reached without trial. In order to determine and agree upon the amount of a settlement, the following factors are considered:
- Establish the full extent of the injury.
- Determine the future needs of the victim, including expected medical costs and cost associated with living with the injury, such as retrofitting of the home, devices and appliances that may be required, and long-term personal care.
- Determine the maximum recovery obtained in similar cases that may have set a precedent.
- Calculate how much the victim would have reasonably made in wages over the course of their lifetime or in the case of homemakers, their contribution to the needs of their family. For more information on the value of a homemaker, click here.
Anesthesiologist Malpractice
The administration of anesthesia may seem routine from the perspective of a patient. But complications can occur, whether they be related to anesthetic medication, unanticipated problems inserting an endotracheal tube, or sudden changes in a patient’s vital signs.
Surgeons rely on anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists to safely place patients under anesthesia and keep patients stable throughout the course of an operation. For some problems that arise during surgery, anesthesiologists are the first doctors in the operating room expected to identify the problem and communicate the issue to the surgeon.
Common causes of anesthesia error during surgeries include:
- Overdose or underdose of narcotic medication and sedatives
- Failure to recognize allergies to medications and prevent life-threatening reactions
- Mismanagement of a difficult airway (difficulty intubating a patient)
- Failure to properly monitor the patient for complications of anesthesia
- Improper positioning of the patient resulting in nerve or spinal cord injury
- Failure to communicate abnormal vital signs to the operating surgeon
Typical Injuries From Anesthesia Negligence
Anesthesia errors can come with significant consequences. These incidents may result in severe brain damage or death. Patients who suffer permanent brain injury may be unable to work or support their family. The fallout may also involve the inability to live independently, difficulty speaking or comprehending, or the development of harmful behaviors and emotions. A doctor who errs in the application of anesthesia may have committed medical malpractice. If so, they are liable to provide full compensation for the harm they have caused.