Medical Malpractice Caused by Anesthesia Errors
When a doctor needs to perform a long, painful surgical procedure, they will advise that the patient be put under anesthesia. Many people have been under anesthesia on many occasions, without incident. While anesthesia is generally safe, it can pose some risks if the doctor is distracted or not well-trained.
When a patient suffers a worsening medical condition or dies due to negligence caused by anesthesia, the anesthesiologist can be sued for medical malpractice. Read on to learn more about the various types of anesthesia errors and how they are caused.
Types of Anesthesia Errors
Anesthesia errors can occur before, during, and after surgery.
- Before surgery. Mistakes may include failing to educate the patient about the possible risks, failing to thoroughly review the patient’s medical history, and failing to provide the patient with preoperative instructions, such as fasting before the surgery.
- During surgery. Many mistakes can occur during the surgery. They may include delaying the anesthesia, administering too much or too little anesthesia. administering the wrong medication, failing to monitor the patient, using defective equipment, and failing to treat complications.
- After surgery. After the surgery, an anesthesiologist could make mistakes. For example, they may leave a patient sedated for too long or leave the patient unattended. They may also fail to provide post-operative instructions.
Causes of Anesthesia Errors
Anesthesia errors can happen in many ways but are often caused by the following:
- Poor communication. Communication is important in the operating room. The patient’s health and data can change constantly while under anesthesia. In an analysis of more than 2,400 events, a lack of effective communication was the primary issue. Ultimately, three-quarters of these patients died.
- Complex nature of the work. Anesthesiologists work in a complex environment. Their job is highly stressful, as it involves high levels of performance and expert knowledge. appropriate problem-solving strategies, and fine motor skills. Plus, safe anesthesia administration requires vigilance and the ability to rapidly make decisions, with the goal of preventing harm to the patient and facilitating surgery.
- Poor monitoring. The patient needs to be checked frequently during and after the procedure, until the anesthesia wears off. That’s because pulse, oxygen levels, and other medical data can change quickly. The anesthesiologist needs to be readily available to make any necessary life-saving efforts.
- Misuse of equipment. Neglecting to perform the prescribed equipment check can result in equipment failure, which can contribute to a patient’s death.
Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by anesthesia errors, you need to act quickly. Don’t let the doctor get away with the harm they have caused you. Seek compensation and justice.
Medical malpractice claims are difficult to prove and fight, but the team at Greco & Wozniak P.A. is ready to help. Contact our Tampa medical malpractice lawyers today so we can evaluate your case and help you understand your legal rights. Give us a call at (813) 223-7849 or fill out the online form.
Source:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6545954/
