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Legal Help for People Who Have Suffered Anesthesia Errors
When you're required to undergo surgery, it can be a stressful time. Not just for you the patient, but also your family. The use of anesthesia, either general or local, can make the entire experience even more unnerving. In spite of advances in anesthesiology, we see mistakes in administering anesthesia still happening regularly in Seattle operating rooms.
Anesthesia errors often happen because of medical negligence. When this happens, victims can seek compensation for their losses. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injury because of an anesthesia error, it's important to understand that you have legal rights.
Contact the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys at Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. for more information.
Understanding the Anesthesia Process
Anesthesia is the medically induced state that allows patients to not feel pain. Anesthesia is administered just before surgery or other medical procedures. Depending on the type of procedure, the patient may receive:
- General anesthesia: This is when a patient is rendered unconscious.
- Local anesthesia: This is used to numb a specific body area.
- Regional anesthesia: There are some procedures that require a numbness of an entire body part, such as an arm or leg.
- Spinal and epidural anesthesia: This is a complicated form of anesthesia where an injection near the spinal cord is given.
Examples of Anesthesia Errors
Just about any error made during the administration of anesthesia can have serious, or even fatal, consequences. Dangerous anesthesia errors can result from defective equipment, but they most often involve negligence or incompetence on the part of a medical professional. When this happens, the victim or the victim's family can file a Washington medical malpractice lawsuit to recover damages from the at-fault party.
Here are a few examples of anesthesia errors that can entitle the patient for compensation:
- Giving the patient too much of one or more drugs.
- Administering too little of one or more drugs, and failing to notice issues before they arise.
- Delaying giving anesthesia when needed, causing the patient tremendous pain and discomfort.
- Using the wrong type of anesthetic.
- Failing to adjust what types of drugs are used relative to the medications the patient has in their system.
- Giving a patient a drug they're allergic to.
- Failure to properly monitor patients.
- Negative interaction of drugs (synergistic or antagonistic).
- "Diverting" or stealing of medication by the health care professional.
Seeking Justice and Fair Compensation After an Anesthesia Error in Seattle
In some cases, anesthesia errors result in little more than dizziness or mild discomfort. Other much more serious consequences of anesthesia errors include:
- Blurred vision
- Heart problems
- Nerve damage
- Birth defects
- Cardiovascular problems
- Paralysis
- Hyperthermia
- Seizures
- Coma
- Hypoxic brain damage
- Ischemic brain damage
- Persistent vegetative state
- Death
If you or a loved one suffered a serious consequence because of anesthesia, you may be able to recover compensation for damages including medical bills, pain and suffering, and more. Depending on the facts of your case, an anesthesiologist, nurse, or the hospital could be held liable for your damages and losses. You'll need an experienced attorney on your side.
Let the Seattle anesthesia error attorneys at Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. be there. We will review your case at no cost and help you determine the best course of action.
Call us at (888) 228-3860.
Additional Information
- Surgery Risks - American Society of Anesthesiologists
- General Anesthesia - Mayo Clinic
- Medication Error in Anaesthesia and Critical Care: a Cause for Concern
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