Louisville, Kentucky Anesthesia Lawyer Here to Help You
Whenever someone has to undergo surgery, he or she is required to sign documents stating that they understand the procedure, and are giving their informed consent. However, not many people read those forms’ fine lines, which cover all of the common complications of a procedure. One of the most common and dangerous parts of many surgeries is anesthesia; in fact, if handled incorrectly, it can cause brain damage, or even death. One recent study shows that anesthesia complications are a contributing factor in over 300 deaths each year in the United States, while another study shows that after years of decline, the death rates from general anesthesia are rising around the world.
The consequences of an anesthesia error can be catastrophic, even deadly – and they are often paired with severe economic losses. If you or a loved one have suffered as a result of an anesthesia error, speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney today!
Contact Gladstein Law Firm today online
or by calling 502-791-9000.
How Errors Occur With Anesthesia
Extensive training is required for anyone who administers anesthesia, including dentists, anesthesiologists, and nurses anesthetists (CRNAs). Still, in some cases, these medical professionals make mistakes that should have been prevented, or are grossly negligent in regard to their responsibilities and practice. Some of the most common anesthesia errors include:
- Failure to thoroughly review the medical records of a patient.
- Failure to conduct a thorough physical examination or assessment.
- Administering an incorrect amount of medication (dosage errors).
- Administering the wrong medication.
- Not correctly or closely monitoring the patient.
- Not reacting appropriately to an emergency or complication.
- Leaving the patient under general anesthesia for too long.
- Intubation errors.
Patients often visit with several physicians before selecting one as their healthcare provider, particularly when it’s for a specific surgery or procedure. Anesthesia, however, is often administered by someone who is unknown to the patient. Those who administer anesthesia often show up at the preoperative evaluation room, and review the patient’s history too quickly or not closely enough. Anesthesiologists and other members of the anesthesia team should always be alert in order to prevent any anesthesia-related injuries.
Because the amount of anesthesia medication needed depends on a number of specific factors about each patient, perhaps the most common error involves medication dosage errors. If too little medication is given, the patient can wake up during surgery, or even become conscious of the pain during surgery while not being able to move. If too much medication is given, the patient could slip into a coma, suffer brain damage, or die.
Contact Louisville anesthesia malpractice attorney
Seth Gladstein today online or by calling 502-791-9000.
The Serious Consequences of Anesthesia Malpractice
Because anesthesia has a direct effect on the function of your brain, lungs, and heart, anesthesia errors can result in extremely serious consequences. The most common complications occur when, due to an error, not enough oxygen travels to the brain, causing permanent brain damage, paralysis, stroke, coma, or death. In other cases, though, a patient may wake up during surgery or feel the pain of surgery. This can result in unbelievable amounts of pain, suffering, and long-term emotional trauma.
The most common consequences of anesthesia errors include:
As you might guess, these serious consequences have effects that ripple through every aspect of your life and the lives of your loved ones. Recovering from a serious anesthesia error often involves extensive medical help, long-term rehabilitation, missed work, and lost wages. In the case of a fatal anesthesia error, families are left with medical bills, the loss of a financial provider, and issues with pain and suffering.
Contact Gladstein Law Firm today online
or by calling 502-791-9000.
Filing an anesthesia malpractice claim, following the anesthesia mistake, can help you recover damages, including:
- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future lost wages
- Pain and suffering
In some cases, you may also be able to recover punitive damages from the medical professional or hospital responsible for your injuries.
How Gladstein Law Firm Can Help With Your Kentucky Anesthesia Medical Malpractice Case
Recovering from an anesthesia error – or coping with the loss of a loved one due to an anesthesia error – can be overwhelming, stressful, and emotional. If you’re fighting against hospitals, insurance companies, and large organizations to receive compensation, you may need an experienced Louisville anesthesia malpractice lawyer on your side. Seth Gladstein has over a decade of experience helping clients and understands that malpractice victims require aggressive representation to beat the big hospitals and insurance companies. Contact us today to schedule a free, private consultation with Seth Gladstein.
Malpractice Cases We Represent
We represent various types of malpractice cases, including but not limited to:
