Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia is an amazing advance of modern medicine that allows a doctor to perform a surgical procedure while the patient experiences little to no discomfort. When administered correctly, anesthesia is safe and highly effective. On the other hand, overdoses and harmful drug interactions are errors associated with the administration of anesthesia that often could have been avoided. While they are rare, anesthesia errors can have harmful, far-reaching effects on the patient, including death. Improperly administered anesthesia that causes injury or death may warrant a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Common causes of anesthesia errors including: failure to constantly monitor the patient; failure to properly intubate (place a tube in the patient’s throat to allow breathing); failure to recognize complications; communication errors between staff; the use of defective equipment; overdose or underdose of anesthesia; delayed anesthesia delivery; failure to avoid an allergic reaction if it could have reasonably been prevented; failure to guard against drug interactions; failure to instruct the patient not to eat or drink within 24 hours following surgery; and failure to properly administer oxygen during surgery.

Regardless of the cause, anesthesia errors are preventable, and victims of anesthesia errors are entitled to compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, diminished earning capacity, lost income, and other costs and losses.

Lawsuits that hold healthcare providers accountable for anesthesia errors do more that help victims recover their lives —they help keep our communities safe by making sure that the medical care we all receive meets minimal quality standards.

If you’ve been injured because of an anesthesia error, you need an attorney to evaluate your case and protect you and your community from future danger.

Contact Siegfried & Jensen today for a free consultation. We’re here for you.