Anesthesia-Related Medical Malpractice

    GOLDEN, CO, March 30, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Anesthesia is supposed to safely keep us comfortable during invasive and painful medical procedures. Anesthesia has the power to change your breathing, heart rate and blood flow to place you in a deeply relaxed and unconscious state. The power of these drugs requires careful screening, monitoring, and administration by the professionals in charge of your care. Severe, life-altering injuries can result when anesthesia-related medical malpractice occurs.

What is Anesthesia Malpractice?

Common types of anesthesia-related medical malpractice include:

- Failure to properly monitor vital signs
- Failure to respond to an anesthesia complication
- Failure to inform patient of anesthesia preparation (i.e. fasting)
- Failure to recognize patient's allergy to anesthesia
- Intubation error
- Dosage error
- Defective or unsanitary anesthesia equipment

Anesthesia-related medical malpractice can severely harm you. Possible outcomes of anesthesia malpractice include:

- Lack of oxygen to the brain
- Brain damage
- Asphyxiation
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Cardiovascular damage
- Tracheal damage
- Coma
- Death

In some cases of anesthesia malpractice, an inadequate dose of anesthesia or the use of defective medical equipment can cause anesthesia awareness, a situation in which the patient awakens during surgery, unable to move or speak but aware of what is happening.

The implications of medical malpractice are quite serious. You may be severely injured or paralyzed because of the anesthesia error. You are likely to face extensive medical treatment and expense, as well as possible physical impairments. You may be unable to work, and thus unable to support yourself and any dependants.

Fault for Anesthesia-Related Medical Malpractice

In the busy environment of hospitals and surgical centers, there are many possible instances in which a mistake can occur. Although no one is guaranteed a positive outcome to treatment or a complication-free surgery, complications that are caused by negligence should not occur.

Anyone who was involved in your anesthesiology care may be found liable for anesthesia medical malpractice. Responsibility may lie with:

- Anesthesiologists
- Nurses
- Physicians
- Hospital administration

These professionals have a duty to provide medical care meeting the standards of the medical community. When a medical professional deviates from accepted standards, his or her carelessness can cause a serious injury, which may ultimately cause the injured a great deal of expense, pain and harm.

To learn more about anesthesia errors and other types of medical malpractice, please visit the website of the experienced medical malpractice lawyers in Pennsylvania at Atlee, Hall & Brookhart, LLP.

Website: http://www.atleehall.com

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