Lexington Anesthesia Errors Lawyer

Anesthesia makes surgery possible, but if a patient receives too much, it can cause lifelong injuries or death. In contrast, a patient who did not receive adequate anesthesia may be left to suffer through lengthy operations with no pain relief.

No patient or family should have to face these outcomes. If you believe you might have a medical malpractice claim for an anesthetic failure, our medical malpractice attorneys can help. Discuss your case with a Lexington anesthesia errors lawyer from Circeo Law Firm today.

Why Is Anesthesia So Dangerous?

General anesthesia, which refers to total unconsciousness during surgery, carries the highest risk for errors. The patient loses the ability to regulate their own breathing, heartbeat, and other basic functions during general anesthesia, meaning the operating team must do it for them.

An anesthesiologist is a specialized doctor who handles general anesthesia. What they must manage, among other things, includes:

• The patient’s airway and oxygen levels
• The heart rate, body temperature, and other vital signs
• The choice of drugs and the appropriate dosage for the patient
• The amount of medication the patient receives during the procedure

To avoid anesthesia errors, an anesthesiologist must understand not only the patient’s medical history but also their possible reactions to anesthesia. Age and weight are major factors, but anesthesiologists must be aware of other concerns, such as the effect of genetics or lifelong alcohol intake.

A Lexington attorney can help you determine whether an anesthesiologist made an avoidable mistake during your or a loved one’s procedure and failed at any point in the process to consider medical history.

What Are the Consequences of an Anesthesia Error?

If a medical team fails to monitor a patient or makes a mistake during general anesthesia, the patient can die, whether from overdose or suffocation. If the patient survives the anesthetic error, severe consequences can follow, such as:

• Cardiac arrest
• Wakefulness and lack of pain relief during surgery
• Injuries to the airway and lungs, including aspiration pneumonia
• Brain damage, which can result in loss of cognitive functions, strokes, or coma

IV sedation, sometimes called twilight sleep, is similar to general anesthesia, though less total, and can pose similar risks.

Regional anesthesia, such as an epidural during labor, leaves a patient alert for a major procedure, and local anesthetic blocks nearby nerves for minor procedures. Although these are not quite as life-threatening, medical errors can still lead to life-altering consequences, such as causing permanent nerve damage and chronic pain. A Lexington attorney can help you seek compensation for the effects of an anesthesia error.

Medical Malpractice Law and Anesthesia Errors

Even after a major anesthesia error, state law does not make it easy for patients or families to make a claim. The patient or their survivors may have as little as one year to file a claim, with some exceptions for concealed injuries or claims involving minors. State courts also want to see a certificate of merit from a medical expert witness, affirming that the patient has a reasonable basis for a claim.

To succeed, the patient or their family has to show that the health care professional who treated them did not act according to the medical standard of care. This failure must have caused their injuries and resulted in their losses. They can also sue other professionals involved and the clinic or hospital where it took place.

Our Lexington attorneys understand not just the law but also the science involved in anesthesia malpractice cases, both of which provide complex challenges. We know how to determine who was responsible, working with experts to prepare the strongest possible case for our client and their family.

Contact Our Lexington Attorneys About an Anesthesia Mistake

Anesthesia has always been difficult, and scientists have only recently started to learn how the drugs actually work. In a field like this, professionals owe their patients painstaking care. Patients and families who suffer from their failures need counsel who will listen to them and understand what they hear.

Attorney Lisa Circeo has a record of providing powerful representation for patients who have suffered medical neglect. Call the Circeo Law Firm to set up your free consultation with a Lexington anesthesia errors lawyer. We do not charge fees for our injury clients until we get the win or settlement you need.