What Are the Consequences of an Anesthesia Error?

 Posted on June 10, 2024 in Medical Malpractice

Anesthesia is commonly administered during surgeries and other medical procedures, and even minor mistakes with the dosage or administration of anesthesia can have severe consequences for patients. While many anesthesiologists and other medical professionals working with anesthesia are careful with how they handle anesthesia, errors do happen, sometimes caused by the direct negligent actions of medical staff.

Patients who have experienced anesthesia errors may deal with a number of different complications and long-term costs. A knowledgeable Illinois medical malpractice lawyer is key to exploring your options if you have suffered from an anesthesia error.

Common Complications of Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia errors are serious, and the complications that result from an anesthesia error can be life-changing for patients. In many cases, these complications are caused by improper monitoring of the patient once he or she is under anesthesia, failure to administer the correct dosage, intubation errors, and equipment malfunctions, or failure to inform the patients of proper pre-surgery procedures.

Complications that can arise from an anesthesia error include:

• Anesthesia awareness, such as waking up during surgery
• Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis
• Respiratory failure
• Cardiac arrest
• Brain damage, including cognitive deficiencies such as memory loss or difficulty concentrating
• Nerve damage or loss of sensation in parts of the body
• Bladder problems
• Malignant hyperthermia

In very serious cases of anesthesia errors, or in cases where corrective actions for an anesthesia error were not undertaken quickly enough, a patient might experience wrongful death.

What Damages Can I Recover After an Anesthesia Error?

Anesthesia errors come with many costs and recovering after such an error can be a long process. If a medical professional acted negligently or in a way that violated their duty of care when administering and monitoring your anesthesia, you may be eligible to pursue a claim against them for damages.

The types of damages you might be able to recover after an anesthesia error include:

• Medical costs such as doctor visits, additional surgeries, and testing
• The cost of live-in nursing or other home help
• The cost of assistive equipment
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of ability to work
• Loss of wages
• In the case of wrongful death, lost care and companionship

Make sure that you contact a skilled attorney as soon as possible after an anesthesia error, as this gives you the best chance of collecting the details you need to pursue a successful case against the responsible party.

Contact a Chicago, IL Medical Malpractice Attorney

Anesthesia errors must be taken seriously, as these errors have the potential to affect someone’s life and how he or she lives after the surgery. If you or a loved one has suffered from an anesthesia error, you should contact a Chicago, IL medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible.

At Winters Salzetta O'Brien & Richardson, LLC, our attorneys have extensive experience with medical malpractice cases and a strong record of success. We will advocate for you to receive the maximum compensation possible for your damages.

Call 312-236-6324 for a free consultation.