How to Hold an Anesthesiologist Liable for Medical Malpractice

How to Hold an Anesthesiologist Liable for Medical Malpractice

Anesthesia MalpracticeAnesthesia is a critical part of operations, enabling a patient to tolerate surgical procedure without experiencing pain and distress. It is generally considered as a safe practice in the medical industry, as stats reveal that the risk of dying from a general anesthetic is 1 out of 100,000. However, using anesthesia requires a great amount of competency, comprehensive evaluation of medical history, and constant monitoring during the procedure to ensure the patient’s safety and wellbeing. It may cause bad reactions in some patients, which may potentially lead to health problems. Therefore, an anesthesiologist must be extremely careful in fulfilling their responsibility as their negligence can lead to severe injury, or potentially even death of a patient.

Role of Anesthesiologist during the procedure

There are many types of anesthesia. A general anesthesia renders the patient completely unconscious during the entire procedure. Regional anesthesia may be administered in a specific region of the body, which allows a patient to stay awake during the surgery. Local anesthesia shares similarities with regional anesthesia, however, it affects a smaller area of the body.

No matter which type of anesthesia is used during the operation, an anesthesiologist must constantly remain aware of the vitals of patients. They must administer the right quantity and timings of anesthesia provided to the patient and must take appropriate action if a patient is experiencing health issues. Anesthesiologists go through a rigorous and demanding training designed specifically to gain competency and proficiency in anesthesiology before starting their practice in this highly sensitive and complex field.

How can Anesthesia Malpractice take place?

It is imperative that doctors must inform their patients before administering them under anesthesia. Failure to notify a patient about the duration and risks associated with anesthesia or administering them without their consent qualifies for a medical malpractice. Ineffective inspection of equipment used for anesthetic purposes before the surgery or neglecting patient’s medical history to determine required amount of dosage of anesthesia may also constitute as medical malpractice.

Furthermore, an anesthesiologist may demonstrate carelessness during enubilating process, or perhaps in the administration of anesthesia such as inadequate monitoring of the vital signs. These type of negligence and poor practices can also contribute towards establishing grounds for medical malpractice.

The common injuries pertaining to anesthesia malpractice include vomit and nausea, difficulty in breathing, allergic reactions, or throat damage. However, in some unfortunate events, it can lead to life-threatening consequences such as nerve damage, stroke, brain damage, heart attack, which may prove to be fatal.

How can a lawyer help in Anesthesia Malpractice?

Undeniably, anesthesia is an integral part of most surgical procedures, allowing you to undergo an operation without suffering from pain and mental distress. Yet, losing consciousness without giving your consent can be detrimental for your health and presents a lot of risks, even when the procedure is performed in a highly regulated condition.

Medical professionals have a duty of care to their patients and aforementioned points pertaining to anesthesia malpractice can result in a breach of duty of care, resulting in a claim for medical malpractice. However, it can be difficult to prove that breach of duty is actually taken place without providing sufficient evidence in court. Therefore, hiring a professional and skillful medical malpractice lawyer can be advantageous for your case as they may help you to collect evidence and obtain maximum amount of compensation for the suffering and risks you borne due to the negligence of medical practitioner.

Personal Injury Attorney

If you wish to find out more about this topic or schedule a free consultation, contact the offices of Robert Edens at (847) 395-2200 to speak with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer.

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