Anesthesia is a method professional healthcare providers use to contain pain during a medical procedure. The methods used in the process can be potentially dangerous if not administered correctly, leading to injuries and in some cases even death. West Virginia law allows victims of anesthesia errors medical malpractice compensation. Following is an overview of common anesthesia errors and information on how you can seek recovery if you have been victim of medical malpractice.
Anesthesia Errors Medical Malpractice: Dangers, Causes, and Epidemiology
An anesthesia error is any mistake that occurs during the process of medicating the patient to prevent him or her from sensing pain. The error can be the failure to perform an appropriate action or the performance of an appropriate action incorrectly. These mistakes are generally more dangerous than surgical errors because even the smallest miscalculation regarding anesthesia can result in brain damage or death. An anesthesiologist may commit medical malpractice by making any of the following common anesthesia errors:
- Administering too much anesthesia
- Failing to monitor a patient’s vital signs
- Using equipment that is defective
- Failing to intubate a patient properly (insert a tube into the trachea for ventilation)
Despite the advances in modern medicine, anesthesia errors continue to occur at even the best facilities and hospitals worldwide. Standardized protocols and simple vigilance are key factors that can avoid the occurrence of anesthesia errors.
What Are the Possible Complications of Anesthesia Errors Medical Malpractice?
Anesthesia is a critical part of surgery, key to performing an otherwise painful procedure with minimal distress for the patient. A mistake in the administration of the anesthesia or a side effect of the drug could cause important complications such as the following:
- Cardiovascular collapse
- Hypoxic brain damage (brain damage due to lack of oxygen)
- Patient unintended consciousness or awareness during anesthesia, occurring in only 2 percent of patients
- Embolism
- Dental damage
Some patients also experience more common side effects such as nausea and vomiting.
What Causes Anesthesia Errors?
There are a variety of factors that give rise to the high incidence of medication errors during the conduction of anesthesia. The most common risk factors include these:
- Fatigue
- A lack of staff
- Odd or long working hours or shifts
- Inattention
- Poor communication
- Carelessness
- Look- and sound-alike drugs
- Failure to calculate drug dose accurately
Whether the cause of an anesthesia error is the inaccurate execution of a medical procedure, a memory failure, or negligence, West Virginia law ensures that victims are eligible for compensation for anesthesia errors medical malpractice.
How Common Are Anesthesia Errors in WV and Elsewhere?
Several studies have examined the number of injuries and deaths due to anesthesia errors. One study conducted using information from 1999 to 2005 found that each year, 34 deaths were due to anesthetic mistakes and were a contributing factor in another 281 deaths. A large number of these fatalities are associated with overdose or adverse effects of the medication. According to a study conducted on statistics from 2007 to 2012, the most commonly claimed patient injuries were from dental and nerve damage and death.
Compensation for Victims of Anesthesia Errors Medical Malpractice
West Virginia law states that a person alleging anesthetic malpractice against a healthcare provider may do so if this claim starts within two years of the injury or two years of discovering the injury. No action can be commenced after ten years of damage allegedly based on an anesthesia error.
If you believe you are victim of this type of injury and want to start a claim based on anesthesia errors medical malpractice, talk to an experienced West Virginia medical malpractice attorney today. The Law Offices of Kelly R. Reed have successfully recovered millions of dollars in damages for our clients. Call us today at 304-292-2020 to schedule a free initial consultation or email us today.