Medical Malpractice and the Improper Administration of Anesthesia
Undergoing medical treatments or surgeries that require the use of anesthesia can be scary. There is no guarantee that any medical procedure will be a success, but patients do have a right to expect a certain quality of care. Medical malpractice describes situations where patients receive substandard care, which directly leads to an injury or illness. Unfortunately, mistakes relating to the administration of anesthesia do occur.
When these types of mistakes are made, the patient may be left with serious, and often long-term, repercussions. Medical malpractice and improper administration of anesthesia results in significant damages for our Orange County, CA clients. At the Law Offices of Sean M. Burke, we offer legal representation to medical malpractice victims and fight to ensure that our clients are justly compensated for the full extent of their losses.
Anesthesia Errors
Any time that anesthesia is administered, there is a degree of risk. Patients must be aware of these risks and be willing to accept the possibility of complications prior to undergoing surgery. However, it is reasonable for patients to expect that doctors, nurses, and anesthesiologists will perform their jobs correctly and administer anesthesia as intended.
If an anesthesia error occurs due to the reckless or negligent actions of a medical professional, that qualifies as medical malpractice. Below are some of the most common anesthesia errors that are likely to be classified as medical malpractice:
- Administering too much anesthetic
- Delivering too little anesthetic, resulting in a state of anesthesia awareness (the patient is aware and/or can feel pain, but may be unable to communicate)
- Administering the wrong anesthesia drug
- Failing to check for possible anesthesia interactions with other prescribed medication
- Delayed delivery of anesthesia
- Failure to adequately monitor the patient while they are under anesthesia
- Using defective medical equipment to deliver the anesthesia
Damages Related to Anesthesia Errors
The use of anesthesia alone carries a certain degree of risk, but when mistakes are made, they can result in serious consequences. Possible damages of anesthesia errors include the following:
- Pain and/or consciousness during treatment
- Dizziness or nausea
- Heart arrhythmia
- Organ damage
- Asphyxia (inadequate supply of oxygen)
- Cardiovascular problems
- Spinal cord injury
- Seizures
- Stroke
- Coma
- Death
Compensation for Damages
When medical malpractice occurs, patients have a right to seek financial compensation for the damages they have suffered. Improper administration of anesthesia can damage the body temporarily or long-term. In either case, the patient will probably experience physical and emotional pain and suffering. In addition, they will likely require medical treatment.
Depending on the specific circumstances of each case, these costs can be extremely high. Other losses may include lost wages or a loss of wage-earning potential, and a decrease in quality of life. Sean M. Burke and his legal team do not take any of these losses lightly. We carefully listen to the details of each of our client’s situations and put together a strong case to prove medical malpractice so that our clients can be justly compensated for their losses.
Contact Us
Medical malpractice cases are complex, and opposing legal teams are often quick to deny all liability. In these situations, the skill and experience of the legal team at the Law Offices of Sean M. Burke is invaluable. To find out how our medical malpractice attorneys can help protect your legal rights, contact us at your earliest convenience.
