Surgical Injuries Caused By Anesthesia Medical Malpractice

Anesthesia is a reversible and temporary condition that results in loss of sensation. 

Loss of sensation normally results from the administration of an anesthetic into the body. The two kinds of anesthetics commonly used are local anesthetics and general anesthetics. The patient remains conscious when local anesthetics are administered, and its effects are limited to a specific area of the body. On the other hand, general anesthetics can cause the patient to lose consciousness.

Use of Anesthesia During Surgery

Anesthesia is administered by an anesthesiologist and anesthetist. It ensures a painless surgery for the patient. Preoperative evaluations are done by an anesthesiologist to develop a strategy for administration of anesthesia. This is done with the help of the surgical team. Before administrating anesthesia, the anesthesiologist takes into account the condition of the patient, airway management, life support, and postoperative procedures. Aside from the anesthesiologist, an anesthetist can also administer the anesthesia under the guidance of a doctor.

An anesthesiologist is a doctor specializing in anesthesiology. On the other hand, an anesthetist is a nurse who undergoes a board certification for the use of anesthesia. The level of training of an anesthesiologist is higher than anesthetists. In many clinics and surgical centers, anesthetists rather than the anesthesiologist administer anesthesia.

Risks in the Administration of Anesthesia

The fear of going through surgery is not only due to the surgical procedure alone, but for many people, it is the possibility of errors in the administration of anesthesia. Not many people are aware that the risk associated with anesthesia administration is not limited to the surgery itself, and a number of things may happen before and after the surgery. If the anesthesia is not administered properly by the anesthetist, the surgery may become a painful experience for the patient. It may even cause serious brain damage, organ and heart failure, comatose, and in worse cases, death. Errors in the administration of anesthesia may result in severe medical issues even if the surgical procedure is successful.

Anesthesia Medical Malpractice

There can be numerous reasons for anesthesia medical malpractice. These include miscommunication among medical personnel, poorly-trained anesthetists, misjudgement, wrong medication doses, inadequate oxygen supply, and improper patient screening for risk factors associated with the administration of anesthesia, including illnesses or allergic reactions.

There are also other issues that can contribute to this situation, including incorrect medication and failure to monitor the patient. These problems normally emerge whenever surgery is performed inside the clinic of the doctor or surgical center. The clinic of a doctor may not have the proper equipment and staff to deal with these medical issues. Whenever these complications arise, the condition of the patient may worsen even before the arrival of an ambulance to transfer the patient to a hospital. Errors in the administration of anesthesia may also happen inside a hospital, which can result in serious medical conditions, like severe brain damage or death.

If you or someone close to you has suffered injury as a result of anesthesia medical malpractice, consult with Zevan and Davidson Law Firm at (314) 588-7200.

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