At The Gogel Law Firm, our St. Louis medical malpractice lawyer knows that anesthesia is pivotal in countless healthcare settings, offering patients pain relief and unconsciousness during surgical procedures throughout Missouri.
Medical malpractice related to anesthesia errors is a concerning issue. It covers a range of situations where mistakes or lack of care during the administration or monitoring of anesthesia lead to severe harm or fatalities for patients. Here, we will explore the causes of these errors and how to assist in such cases.
What are the Most Common Types of Complications Caused by Anesthesia?
Complications from anesthesia errors can vary from minor side effects like nausea, vomiting, or post-operative pain to long-term severe injuries or even death. If these complications result from the negligence of an anesthesiologist or other medical professional, it may be considered malpractice.
The most common types of medical malpractice caused by anesthesia errors include, but are not limited to:
- Failing to thoroughly review a patient’s medical records and histories and administer drugs that patients are allergic to or cause harmful interactions with other medications.
- Administering the incorrect medication due to mislabeling, miscommunication, or human error.
- Dosing errors involving too little anesthesia can lead to the patient waking up during surgery, while too much can result in a coma or organ damage.
- Lack of continuous monitoring of vital signs and oxygen levels during and after the procedure.
- Incorrectly placing the breathing tube in the esophagus instead of the trachea leads to a lack of oxygen.
- Poor communication between the surgical team and anesthesiologists can lead to mistakes in anesthetic administration or response to complications.
All medical malpractice anesthesia cases require four essential elements:
- Duty: An established relationship between the anesthesiologist and the patient.
- Breach: A breach of that duty of care.
- Injury: An injury or harm that resulted in damages.
- Causation: Injury or harm was directly caused by the breach of care.
Our experienced medical malpractice attorney in St. Louis can determine if negligence was at play and help construct a strong anesthesia malpractice case.
Contact Our St. Louis Medical Malpractice Attorney Today
If you believe you have a medical malpractice claim due to an anesthesia error in Missouri, contact our St. Louis medical malpractice attorney today to review your case by calling (314)-370-8173 or online to schedule a free consultation.
We will evaluate your case, help you understand your legal rights and options, and meet any deadlines that will allow you to pursue the best outcome for your unique claim.
