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Although anesthesia errors are rare, fear of anesthesia is not without a real basis. Anesthesia errors can be fatal and those who survive can be permanently injured. An anesthesiologist, a specialist whose only job is to administer anesthesia and monitor the patient, must be present whenever general anesthesia is used. While there is always some risk in using anesthesia, anesthesia errors are medical malpractice. If you have been harmed by anesthesia error, please talk to a Boynton Beach medical malpractice attorney.
Types of Anesthesia Error
Anesthesia errors can happen in many ways, and are not limited to mistakes made when using general anesthesia. Some common types of anesthesia error include:
- Overdose
- Underdose
- Delayed delivery of anesthesia
- Allergic reaction
- Harmful drug interactions
- Failure to properly monitor the patient
- Failure to properly administer oxygen
- Intubation error
- Prolonged sedation
- Failure to properly instruct the patient regarding fasting and any other preparations they must make for surgery
- Injection errors
- Unsanitary conditions
Anesthesia Error Injuries
Injuries caused by anesthesia mistakes can include:
- Nerve damage
- Meningitis
- Brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Asphyxia
- Tracheal injury
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Paralysis
- Coma
Anesthesia Awareness
While not fatal, anesthesia awareness is the most terrifying type of anesthesia problem. It is underreported. Many patients are afraid to tell their doctors what happened because they think their doctors will not believe them. Some doctors and anesthesiologists do tell their patients that they are either lying or delusional when they report it.
In anesthesia awareness the patient wakes up during surgery, but cannot move or speak or do anything to alert the surgeon or other medical staff. They can hear and feel what is going on. Some only feel pressure. Others feel extreme pain.
The consequences of anesthesia awareness can be very severe and include:
- Anxiety
- Sleep disorders
- Depression
- PTSD
- Phobia of doctors and medical settings
- Suicide
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by medical malpractice, call Boynton Beach medical malpractice attorneys Fenster & Cohen, P.A. by calling (954) 473-1500 or toll-free at (877) 845-8989 or contact us online. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.