Recent data shows that about 1 in every 250,000 patients pass away as a result of anesthesia complications. In many surgical procedures, the process of administering anesthesia is one of the most dangerous parts. Unfortunately, anesthesia errors and complications occur regularly, but a majority of people will never hear about data unless they are personally affected by the medical error. The following are three of the most commonly reported anesthesia mistakes.
Reason 1: Ineffective Communication Between Medical Staff Members
Medical caregivers have a responsibility and duty of care to provide their patients with a certain standard of care. Unfortunately, many medical care professionals disregard this responsibility and often work under the following negligent conditions:
- Fatigued,
- Being involved in conflicts with other medical staff,
- Feeling rushed to complete a surgery procedure
These are all causes as to why technicians and anesthesiologists fail to abide by the safety factors required to administer anesthesia. The failure to consider the patient’s weight, age, type or surgery, and potential risks associated with the medication can be fatal to the patient.
Reason 2: Inadequate Training or Experience in Anesthesia Administration
Some hospitals fail to hire medical professionals with adequate experience and training in a profession. Because of this, there are anesthesiologists who unfortunately refine their skills on patients. When a patient is treated or medicated by a medical care professional that does not have the right experience, the results can be catastrophic.
Reason 3: The Failure to Read Surgeon Orders or Chart Notes
Even if another hospital staff member has made a note of the patient’s allergies or medical conditions, it is the responsibility of the anesthesiologist to ensure he or she is reading the medical profile. Wrongly administered anesthesia can lead to a stroke or heart attack.
Complications Following Wrongly Administered Anesthesia
A patient can suffer a number of complications following an anesthesia error. These complications can lead to many years of medical expenses and other costs. Some of the most common health concerns following an anesthesia error includes:
- Stroke,
- Loss of mobility,
- Loss of sensitivity,
- Heart attack, or
- Respiratory failure
After an Anesthesia Error Has Caused You Harm, File a Medical Malpractice Claim
If you or someone you know was injured as a result of an anesthesia error, it is important to consider that the State of California has very strict deadlines when it comes to filing a medical malpractice claim. Filing a claim can be beneficial in the process of recovery, as a successful claim can provide an injured patient with the financial compensation they need to pay for medical expenses. In order to be moving towards of a successful claim, medical malpractice lawsuits should be filed within one year of the medical error. For more information about how to file a successful claim, consider contacting a skilled law firm for support.
At SANFORD A. KASSEL, A Professional Law Corporation, it is our utmost priority to represent victims that have been injured as a result of another’s negligence. If you are a victim of a careless anesthesia error or have lost a loved one as a result of the medical negligence, consult a law firm with the right skills and experience.
