Pennsylvania Anesthesia Error Lawyers

While anesthesia errors are rare (about 1 in 200,000 to 300,000), they can be very serious or fatal to a patient. Anesthesiologists are specially trained to handle the amount of anesthesia that is administered to a patient. Their only responsibility in the operating room is to monitor the anesthesia and patient's vital signs.

There are many reasons why an anesthesia error can occur, but mostly they are due to the negligence of the anesthesiologist. When their negligence causes you harm, you have the right to hold them responsible for your injuries. By holding them accountable, you may even ensure they do not harm any possible future patients.

The following is a list of the most common anesthesia errors that can be made:

• Anesthesia dosage error
• Delayed anesthesia delivery
• Failure to intubate or injury caused during intubatiion
• Failure to properly monitor a patient
• Failure to recognize complications
• Leaving the head of the bed, allowing the patient to go unattended
• Turning off the alarm on the pulse oximeter
• Improper or negligent administration of oxygen during surgery
• Allowing oxygen to come too close to hot surgical equipment
• Drug or alcohol use by an attending medical provider
• Communication errors before, during or after the procedure, which can occur between and among medical staff and patients
• Dangerously prolonged sedation
• Defective medical equipment

Injuries that can occur from these anesthesia mistakes are:

• Tracheal damage or injury to surrounding areas caused by intubation errors
• Asphyxia or lack of adequate oxygen supply
• Cardiovascular injury (including heart attack or stroke)
• Birth defects
• Loss of bodily functions
• Brain damage
• Spinal cord injury (can lead to paralysis)
• Coma
• Death

If you have suffered from an anesthesia error, please call one of our dedicated Philadelphia anesthesia error lawyers at Anapol Schwartz for your free and confidential consultation.