An anesthesiologist is a doctor who cares for surgical patients and administers the appropriate amount of anesthesia to make them comfortable during medical procedures. Unlike other physicians, an anesthesiologist does not specialize in treating patients for medical conditions or perform surgeries. An anesthesiologist’s duty is to make sure the patient has the required pain relief and sedation needed during their surgical procedure. They are responsible for administering the anesthesia and monitoring the patient’s vital bodily functions such as heart rate. The anesthesiologist must carefully calculate the dosages of anesthesia and control necessary pain medications.Anesthesia is used during medical procedures to prevent patients from feeling sensation. Once administered, the patient enters a state of amnesia that is reversible; they become unconscious and lose muscle reflexes. Anesthesia is used to decrease the stress response, allowing medical professionals to treat patients appropriately.
While anesthesia is used to assist in procedures that are meant to help improve patient health, it is possible to suffer injury or death from anesthesia. If an anesthesia error is made due to medical malpractice, and the patient is in fact injured from the error, the patient or family can file a claim.
It is important for those undergoing anesthesia to know the risks that are associated with it.
Anesthesia Errors: Risks to Patients
- Injury to mouth – teeth, tongue, lips
- Brain damage
- Vocal cord injury
- Elevated body temperature
- Abnormal reaction
The risks associated with anesthesia are somewhat common but can also be due to medical negligence. If a patient experiences one of the above anesthesia errors, they should contact a medical malpractice attorney. If a patient suffered injury or death that can be attributed to medical malpractice, compensation should be given for the pain and suffering that resulted.
Common Causes
Common causes of anesthesiologist malpractice lawsuits include:
- Failure to properly anesthetize a patient
- Failure to properly sedate a patient
- Failure to properly perform an epidural injection
- Failure to properly perform an intubation
- Failure to properly monitor a patient’s vital signs and condition during surgery
- Overmedicating and/or over-sedating a patient
- Allowing a patient to wake up during a surgical procedure
- Failure to properly position a patient for surgery
Seeking Legal Assistance
The attorneys at our office have helped victims of medical negligence receive compensation for their injuries, as well as families who have lost a loved one due to a medical error. We have the resources necessary to ensure that the proper legal steps are taken, and can help ease the stress that the legal process puts on one’s shoulders.
Contact a Toledo anesthesia error lawyer today for a free case evaluation, and to order your free copy of The Ultimate Guide to Medical Malpractice in Ohio.