Anesthesia Errors

If you’ve been injured due to the use of anesthesia anyplace in the State of Florida, contact this Fort Lauderdale Anesthesia Error/Mistake Lawyer today. Anesthesia is a drug-induced state wherein you either cannot feel pain (or as much pain) or you are completely unconscious. It is something that is oftentimes used by doctors in order to make surgical operations or procedures more bearable for patients. Typically, a drug will be administered by a doctor called an anesthesiologist in order to either dull the patient’s sensations or put the patient into a state of unconsciousness. Anesthesia may be given in the form of “local anesthesia” (usually delivered in the form of an injection to a specific body part) or “general anesthesia” (usually designed to actually put the patient into a state of unconsciousness).

Nevertheless, anesthesia can be extremely dangerous. There are various forms of anesthesia mistakes. These include anesthesia overdose. If too much of the drug is administered, the patient may “OD.” If this occurs, the patient can wind up in a coma or a persistent vegetative state. In the worst case scenario, the patient can actually pass away.

Anesthesia errors also include situations wherein patients develop allergic reactions. Anesthesiologists are supposed to make sure that their patients are not allergic to the drugs they intend to administer. If they don’t do this and the patients develop an allergic reaction as a result of the drug, then the anesthesiologist who administers the drug may be responsible for whatever injuries result.

Anesthesia errors also include dangerous drug interactions. That is, anesthesiologists are responsible for making sure that the drugs they administer don’t have negative reactions when administered with other drugs (i.e., drugs their patients are already on). If an anesthesiologist doesn’t do this and the anesthesia causes a negative reaction as a result, then the anesthesiologist can be responsible for whatever injuries result.

There are various types of anesthesia drugs. If an anesthesiologist knows that a patient cannot have one type of anesthesia drug, then the anesthesiologist should use a different type of anesthesia drug – but this is not always done.

Anesthesiologists also are responsible for monitoring their patients during the anesthesia. That is, anesthesiologists must monitor the vitals of their patients while they are under anesthesia (heart-rate, oxygen levels, etc.). This is important because, if one of the vitals is off, it can cause catastrophic harm to the patient. For example, if a patient’s oxygen level becomes too low during a procedure, the patient can experience asphyxia, a hypoxic event and resulting brain damage. If this was something that could have been observed during by the anesthesiologist (during the procedure) but wasn’t, then the anesthesiologist will be liable.

In order to make sure that patients get enough oxygen during a procedure, anesthesiologist will frequently “intubate” their patients. Intubation is a process wherein a plastic tube is placed into a patient’s trachea or windpipe. The plastic tube helps the patient to inhale oxygen into his or her lungs.

While intubation can serve a good purpose, intubation errors can be dangerous and cause catastrophic injuries. For example, if intubation isn’t done properly, then a patient may experience a hypoxic event and resulting brain damage. Sometimes, anesthesiologists choose to not intubate a patient at all. This can be deadly.

Injection errors also may occur during anesthesia. Anesthesia drugs are typically administered intravenously. When a mistake is made by the anesthesiologist during administration of the drug, serious injuries can occur. Further, if the drug is administered in unsanitary conditions, then an infection may result. If this occurs, then the anesthesiologist may be held responsible.

Anesthesia may also be allowed to last too long. Anesthesiologists may intend to put the patient into an “induced coma” through the use of anesthesia. An induced coma may promote healing and allow the patient to get better. However, if the anesthesia is allowed to last too long (or if the patient isn’t properly monitored), then catastrophic consequences may result.

Mr. Quackenbush will work on a contingency basis should you decide to hire him as your attorney. This indicates that there is no risk to you as Mr. Quackenbush won’t charge you a dime until you’ve made a recovery in your case.

Call Mr. Quackenbush for a free, no obligation consultation should you have been injured by an anesthesia error or mistake anywhere in the State of Florida (including Miami, Miami-Dade, West Palm Beach or Palm Beach County). If you call him at 954-448-7288, Mr. Quackenbush will gladly talk to you about your case for free.

As a result of the above forms of anesthesia negligence, various injuries can occur. These include nerve damage, brain injury, a tracheal injury, vein and artery damage, paralysis and coma.

If not enough anesthesia is administered, then a patient may experience “anesthesia awareness.” With anesthesia awareness, a patient may actually be conscious during a procedure (even though the intent was for the patient to be unconscious). The patient may be unable to move or say anything to the doctor performing the procedure, and instead is left experiencing severe pain or discomfort. This South Florida Anesthesia Error/Mistake Attorney handles cases involving anesthesia awareness.

The statute of limitations for a case of anesthesia/anesthesiologist malpractice is two years. This means that you must file your lawsuit within two years of the malpractice (or the date you knew or should have known of the malpractice). If you don’t, then you case may be forever barred – so it’s important to call Mr. Quackenbush as soon as possible.

Finally, anesthesia errors may tragically cause death. If your loved one has passed away as a result of an anesthesia mistake, then you may be able to pursue a medical malpractice wrongful death case. In that case, you or another relative will typically be appointed as the personal representative of the estate. Your loved one’s relatives (i.e., the survivors) will be the beneficiaries of the estate and receive whatever compensation is recovered for their loss. Nevertheless, in a medical malpractice case, there are all sorts of restrictions on who can receive compensation, so it is best to call Mr. Quackenbush as soon as possible.

In order to pursue a case of anesthesiologist malpractice, it will be necessary to obtain a signed affidavit from another anesthesiologist stating his or her opinion that the first anesthesiologist committed malpractice. That is, the South Florida Anesthesia Error/Mistake Lawyer will hire an outside anesthesiologist (i.e., the “expert anesthesiologist”) to review your medical records and determine if your treating anesthesiologist was negligent. If the expert anesthesiologist feels that malpractice was committed, then he or she will sign an affidavit to that effect. In fact, in order to pursue a case of anesthesia malpractice, it is necessary to obtain this affidavit.

If you’ve been injured due to an anesthesia error or mistake, Mr. Quackenbush will gladly talk to you about your case for fee. Call Mr. Quackenbush at 954-448-7288 for a free, no obligation consultation.

Mr. Quackenbush will work on a contingency basis once he’s been retained. This means that there is no risk to you as this Broward County Anesthesia Error/Mistake Lawyer won’t get paid for his work until you’ve made a recovery in your case.