The vast majority of major surgeries that require anesthesia come with risks. One of those risks is something called anesthesia errors. A variety of anesthesia errors can happen with an array of consequences. These consequences range from severe pain and adverse reactions to death. Talk with a New York City medical malpractice attorney if you suffered harm from anesthesia.

Types of Anesthesia Errors

There are several types of anesthesia errors and consequences. Being aware of these errors can help you identify the cause of the harm you suffered. This is vital if you are considering filing a medical malpractice

claim for compensation.

Some of the most common anesthesia cases that lead to death include anesthesia overdose, adverse side effects, and pregnancy care mistakes. Less common causes of death from anesthesia are malignant hyperthermia and intubation complications. Some of these causes may involve errors while others may be out of the medical professional's control.

For example, certain adverse side effects cannot be foreseen by even the most trained medical professionals. However, if the medical professional was aware of prior adverse reactions or allergies in the patient and failed to take precautions, then this could be deemed negligent. Medical professionals who fail to assess for these factors may also be considered negligent.

Other anesthesia errors can be caused by failure to maintain equipment for anesthesia, operating without adequate training, and not properly administering anesthesia. Since anesthesia often involves multiple types of medications that need to be balanced, there is room for error in this aspect as well. In some cases, this can lead to anesthesia awareness.

Harms of Anesthesia Awareness

Not everyone has heard about anesthesia awareness when a patient wakes up during surgery. This can also take the form of being awake during the entire surgery but remaining paralyzed. The patient is unable to alert medical staff that they are awake while they feel the excruciating pain of the surgery.

This is a terrifying experience that can deter many people from undergoing surgery. However, anesthesia awareness is a rare experience. The causes of anesthesia awareness vary and may include anesthesia monitoring errors, tubing errors, user errors, and intervenors errors.

The harms caused by anesthesia awareness include the risks of shock, trauma, and the development of mental health problems. Severe emotional distress can lead to the development of lifelong struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

If the error that caused this harm can be traced back to negligence, then you might be able to file a medical malpractice claim. Consider contacting a New York City medical malpractice lawyer if you think you suffered harm from an anesthesia error.

New York City Medical Malpractice Attorney

You may not have to pay for damages you suffered from an anesthesia error. Call the Sullivan and Brill Law Firm at (212) 566-1000 today to speak with a San Juan medical malpractice lawyer for a consultation. Our legal team can help maximize your compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. We are located in New York City, Long Island, Kings, Bronx, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and Rockland Counties, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.