One of the greatest tools that used in medicine today is anesthesia. This allows doctors to conduct surgery and other procedures on patients without causing them pain. It is a very, very powerful drug and if not used properly, can quickly turn fatal. Anesthesiologists have to go through a significant amount of training in order to be permitted to administer this drug to patients. When an anesthesiologist makes a mistake, they can cause very serious harm to a patient.
There are four different types of anesthesia that a medical professional may choose to administer depending on the nature of the surgery. If one limited area is being operated on, they may choose local anesthesia. If a larger part of the body needs to be numbed, the doctor may choose regional anesthesia. General anesthesia is used if the doctors need the patient to lose consciousness for the surgery because it is so invasive. Conscious sedation is a method used if the patient simply wants to be less aware of the procedure that is taking place.
Common Anesthesia Errors
Some of the negligent acts involving anesthesia include the following:
- Failure of doctors to communicate effectively
- Administering an improper dosage of anesthesia
- Failure to monitor the patient
- Failure to consider a patient’s medical history and allergies
- Confusing patient charts
Of course, these errors can result in serious health concerns, including brain damage, stroke, allergic reactions, heart attacks, and a patient waking up during surgery.
Legal Options for an Anesthesia Error in NY
When a medical professional makes an anesthesia error, they must be held accountable. Therefore, it is important for a victim to consider their legal options. A successful lawsuit may allow the victim of medical malpractice to recover damages for their medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and lost wages. If you or a loved one has been the victim of an anesthesia error or another form of medical malpractice, contact our firm today and we would be happy to assess your case.
At Mark L. Bodner, P.C., we are committed to guiding clients through each step of the medical malpractice claims process. Our firm understands how traumatic it can be when you become a victim of medical malpractice. We are prepared to fight on your behalf to help you recover a maximum compensation award. Contact our firm today.