Medical professionals use anesthesia to help patients get through painful or intense medical treatments. However, misapplications of anesthesia may lead to injuries or even a wrongful death.
In this situation, you can reach out to a Cincinnati anesthesia error lawyer at The Fitch Law Firm LLC for assistance
What Is Anesthesia Malpractice?
Anesthesia errors often represent a kind of malpractice in Cincinnati. Malpractice occurs when professionals—like anesthesiologists—do not maintain their duty of care to their patients. These acts of malpractice occur when a healthcare professional:
Administers an Incorrect Amount of Anesthesia
Anesthesia mistakes occur when an anesthesiologist uses too much or too little anesthesia. Patients under sedation with too little anesthesia often wake up during medical procedures, experiencing pain and suffering.
Patients exposed to too much anesthesia can experience brain injuries or even death.
Monitors a Patient Incorrectly
Anesthesiologists have a duty to monitor their patients the entire time they are under sedation. This is because patients may experience an adverse reaction to the sedation, including vomiting. The vomit may block the patient’s airways, leading to severe issues.
Intubates or Extubates a Patient Improperly
Anesthesiologists intubate—or put a tube down a patient’s throat—patients during medical procedures when they are under anesthesia. Improperly carrying out this procedure prevents patients from getting proper oxygen, resulting in oxygen deprivation.
Improperly extubating a patient could damage a patient’s trachea, vocal cords, mouth, or lips.
Does Not Review a Patient’s Allergies
Some patients have allergic reactions to anesthesia. Medical professionals have a duty to assess a patient’s medical records before using the anesthesia.
Does Not Check a Patient’s Other Medications
Anesthesia does not react well with all medications. Sometimes, patients regularly take a medicine that causes serious healthcare events when mixed with the chemicals in anesthesia. Therefore, medical professionals should review a patient’s medication list before administering anesthesia.
For a free legal consultation with a anesthesia error lawyer serving Cincinnati, call 614-545-3930
Reasons for Anesthesia Errors
Anesthesia errors occur for several different reasons, according to the Anesthesia Essays and Researches. These accidents often occur due to the complexity of anesthesia work or communication mistakes with other medical professionals.
Human error causes many anesthesia errors. Healthcare workers cause these errors when they:
- Use improper techniques
- Misuse their equipment
- Do not seek appropriate data
- Act with improper knowledge
Anesthesia error lawyers often step in to help patients who sustained an injury due to breathing circuit disconnection, gas supply problem, or gas flow change.
Cincinnati Anesthesia Error Lawyer Near Me 614-545-3930
Results of Anesthesia Mistakes
An anesthesia error can have serious medical consequences for patients. These accidents may leave a patient in a coma or with permanent brain damage. We also see patients who deal with:
- Nerve damage
- Spinal injuries
- Heart attacks or strokes
- Dental injures
- Respiratory failures
Some anesthesia errors lead to a wrongful death, making them severe occurrences. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, around 10% of deaths in the United States are due to medical errors. Many of these errors involve the incorrect use of anesthesia.
Forms of Compensation for Anesthesia Injuries
If you or a family member sustained an injury due to an anesthesia error, you have legal options. An anesthesia error attorney could step in to help secure compensation for your:
Economic Losses
Economic losses cover expenses tied directly to your injuries. For example, medical expenses and lost wages at work represent economic losses. Your lawyer can track these losses for you to make sure they are all appropriately covered.
Non-Economic Losses
You may also seek compensation for non-economic losses in Cincinnati. These losses do not come with a set dollar value. Instead, they cover things like your pain and suffering. In many cases, patients receive more non-economic damages.
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Get Compassionate Help After the Loss of a Loved One
Errors in the administration of anesthesia can prove fatal. In this situation, a wrongful death lawyer can step in to help with your claim. A lawyer can review all the factors that led to the accident and the anesthesiologist’s actions.
Depending upon your case, a lawyer could help your family get compensation for the burial or funeral expenses. You could also receive compensation for your lost inheritance, lost support, and other losses.
Liability for Errors in the Administration of Anesthesia
To get compensation for the injuries associated with an anesthesia error, a lawyer can show that someone else caused the mistake. Lawyers review the facts of your procedure and other information about the hospital.
Sometimes, doctors or anesthesiologists work directly for a hospital or medical facility. In this situation, you could seek compensation directly from the medical facility. In other instances, healthcare workers have a contract.
An attorney could help you file a claim against a contract worker to seek damages to cover your losses.
Your Legal Options After an Anesthesia Error
You have legal opportunities to seek compensation if you suffered an injury due to an anesthesia mistake in Cincinnati. Note that some hospitals will reach out to you right away after a medical malpractice event. In addition, they may try to sit down with your family to offer you a settlement.
The professionals recommend that you do not agree to one of these family discussions until you have legal help on your side. Hospitals often offer a limited settlement offer.
Instead, you may file a claim with the insurance company with the help of a lawyer. You also have the option to file a lawsuit in some cases. These legal steps allow you to protect your family and work towards getting full compensation.
Contact an Anesthesia Error Attorney in Cincinnati to Get Started Today
You can start working with an anesthesia error lawyer serving Cincinnati when you reach out to The Fitch Law Firm LLC. We take on claims for clients after an injury or a wrongful death. You can discuss your situation when you call us at (513) 407-4521.
Call or text 614-545-3930 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form