Serious complications related to anesthesia are incredibly rare, but when they happen, they are often due to negligence and avoidable mistakes. In cases like these, it’s essential that Montgomery County, PA victims contact an expert medical malpractice lawyer immediately to ensure that they get compensation for their losses. The only problem is that finding out whether or not you are the victim of anesthesia-related medical malpractice can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for.
There is a wide variety of different mistakes that medical professionals can make before, during, and after administering anesthesia. Here are a few of the most common anesthesia mistakes that may lead to legal action.
Failure to Follow Protocols Before Administering Anesthesia
There are a number of protocols that anesthesiologists need to follow before administering anesthesia. From reviewing medical records to identify allergies or medical conditions that could cause complications, to conducting pre-operative meetings and supervising the administration process, all of these protocols are vital to ensuring that you stay safe and healthy.
Failure to follow these protocols could result in serious complications, including allergic reactions, respiratory problems, anesthesia awareness, and even permanent brain damage.
Failure to Obtain Informed Consent Before Administering Anesthesia
Another mistake that could lead to legal action is the failure of the medical professional to obtain informed consent before administering anesthesia. Informed consent is the principle that every patient should have all the necessary information to make a well-informed decision regarding a medical procedure before consenting to it. Every patient needs to know exactly why they are undergoing a specific medical procedure, along with the potential benefits and risks associated with it.
If your doctor or any other medical professional performs a medical procedure on you without first obtaining your informed consent, this is a serious breach of trust that can and should result in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Improper Dosage
Improper dosage is one of the more common anesthesia errors, occurring when a patient is given either too much or too little anesthesia. This can lead to various complications, depending on where the incorrect dosage falls on the spectrum.
In cases where the dosage is too high, patients often experience high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and faster breathing, all of which can cause serious problems during surgery. On the other hand, if the dosage is too low, patients may experience increased pain or even anesthesia awareness, which is the incredibly traumatic experience of regaining consciousness during a procedure.
High Spinal Injections
High spinal injections are essentially an administration error where the local anesthetic inadvertently spreads to the nerves above the T4 vertebrae. This can cause a number of severe side effects, the first of which is the paralysis of the intercostal muscles and diaphragm, which can cause difficulty or even the complete inability to breathe independently.
High spinal injections can also cause heart problems, including cardiac arrest, as well as complete unconsciousness in situations where unconsciousness was not the goal of administering anesthesia.
Intubation Errors
While not necessarily an anesthesia mistake, intubation errors are another common anesthesia-related mistake that can result in a medical malpractice lawsuit. While under anesthesia, patients are typically able to breathe on their own. This means that they need to be intubated to ensure that their body is receiving enough oxygen during the procedure.
Medical professionals must exercise utmost care when inserting and removing the breathing tube to prevent damage to the trachea. Otherwise, it may sustain damage that could cause anything from a persistent sore throat and difficulties breathing to more permanent consequences like brain damage due to hypoxia.
Anesthesia Defects
Sometimes mistakes occur that aren’t necessarily the anesthesiologist’s fault. While rare, product defects, mislabelings, and even equipment malfunctions can cause administrative errors that otherwise wouldn’t occur. If this is the case, and you experience adverse effects as a result, you may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the product manufacturers or the hospital supervisor.
Improper Patient Monitoring and Follow-Up Care
Anesthesiologists are also responsible for monitoring the patient both during their medical procedure and after. This helps ensure that the patient is reacting properly to the anesthesia while the procedure is happening and will fully recover afterwards. If any complications occur, it could be due to improper patient monitoring, which is yet another reason that you may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.
What to Do If You Are The Victim of an Anesthesia Mistake in Montgomery County, PA
Whether it’s anesthesia-related or not, if you suspect that you are the victim of medical malpractice, it’s crucial that you contact a reputable Montgomery County, PA medical malpractice lawyer as quickly as possible.
When it comes to any personal injury case, time is of the essence. Lawyers need as much time as possible to help you gather evidence, file paperwork, and seek counsel from medical professionals who have experience with your specific type of case. All of this is necessary to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve, and the longer you wait, the worse off your case may be.
Regardless of how sure you are that you have been a victim of medical malpractice, if you have even the slightest suspicion, seek legal representation right away!
Contact HoeyLegal Today
Do you suspect that you are the victim of an anesthesia mistake? Are you looking for a Montgomery County, PA medical malpractice lawyer that you can trust to get you the compensation you deserve? Give HoeyLegal a call.
Here at HoeyLegal, we’re proud to be Montgomery County, PA’s leading personal injury law firm, specializing in medical malpractice, slips and falls, nursing home negligence, and many more. We understand just how traumatizing being a victim of medical malpractice can be, but our legal experts are always here to be your trusted advocates, no matter what.
All you have to do is call, and we’ll happily help you schedule a free legal consultation at a time that’s convenient for you. Don’t go through your medical malpractice case alone. Contact HoeyLegal and take the first step toward getting your fair and just compensation today!