Albany Anesthesiologist Malpractice Lawyers

Thanks to anesthesia, modern medicine allows patients to receive life-saving care without experiencing pain. However, the delivery of anesthesia comes with certain risks when those trusted to administer it make a critical error. Anesthesia errors are a leading cause of preventable hospital errors and potential grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. 

If you were harmed or lost a loved one because of an anesthesia error, contact an experienced Albany medical malpractice lawyer from Powers & Santola, LLP. We can pursue legal action against the negligent healthcare providers who caused your harm. Call us today for a free consultation. 

What Is Anesthesia?

Anesthesia is a form of medication that a healthcare provider administers before a medical procedure. Anesthesia may make the patient unconscious or dull their senses when they need to be conscious but do not want to experience pain.

Various forms of anesthesia exist, including:

• General anesthesia
• Spinal anesthesia
•  Epidural anesthesia
• Local anesthesia for a specific body part
• Regional anesthesia for larger sections of the body
• Dissociative anesthesia

The number and type of anesthetics a patient receives depends on various factors, including the desired effect, the length of the procedure, and the patient’s size.

One common type of anesthesia that many people are familiar with is an epidural. An epidural is a form of anesthesia that is injected into the lower back through a catheter. Healthcare providers commonly give this medication to pregnant women who are giving birth. Yale Medicine estimates that approximately 75% of pregnant women receive epidurals during childbirth.

Who Are Anesthesiologists?

Anesthesiologists are doctors. They are highly trained medical professionals who are educated about the uses, effects, and proper administration of various types of medicine used during medical procedures. They are responsible for providing patients with medication before or during surgery.

What Is an Anesthesia Error?

An anesthesia error is a type of medication error. This can include:

• Giving the patient the wrong kind of medication 
• Providing too little medication
• Providing too much medication
• Giving the patient a medication that counteracts another medication

Anesthesia errors cause patient harm, including allowing them to experience more pain than they should have or waking up during an invasive surgical procedure. 

How Common Are Anesthesia Errors?

The American Society of Anesthesiologists tracks “adverse outcome” claims that arise from using medical anesthesia. Since 1961, the organization has gathered information on more than 5,000 claims. Adverse outcomes related to respiratory events are the most reported negative outcome, at 34%. Thirty percent of cases involve patient death, 12% involve brain damage, and another 12% involve nerve damage.

If you were harmed due to such errors, our medical injury lawyers can fight for justice and accountability. 

Common Types of Anesthesia Mistakes

These medical errors can take many forms, including:

• Giving the wrong medication to a patient
• Delayed delivery of anesthesia
• Failing to account for harmful interactions between medications
• Unintentionally administering residual anesthetics
• Failing to provide instructions to patients before receiving anesthesia
• Not monitoring a patient’s vital signs for adverse health outcomes
• Delivering too much medication 
• Failing to read the patient’s medical chart to understand their history, allergies, and interactions
• Administering medication that a patient is allergic to
• Not properly controlling IV flow rates
• Failing to respond promptly to respiratory or cardiac distress
• Failing to intubate a patient or improperly intubating a patient
• Failing to provide proper follow-up instructions

Our experienced lawyers can investigate your case to determine the medical error and who is responsible.

Why Do Anesthesia Errors Occur?

Anesthesia errors can occur in many different medical settings, including the emergency room, operating room, intensive care unit, or birthing station. The setting can impact why these errors may occur. For example, emergency room errors commonly occur because doctors feel rushed to make decisions and may not have adequate information about the patient’s history. 

Other common reasons for anesthesia errors include:

• Unqualified or incompetent medical providers
• Lack of experience 
• Unfamiliarity with the equipment or medical device
• Poor communication between providers
• Distractions
• Failing to adhere to professional standards
• Fatigue

The consequences of these medical errors are often severe or deadly. If you have personally experienced an anesthesia error or lost a loved one because of this type of error, contact the dedicated attorneys at Powers & Santola, LLP for legal representation. 

What Types of Complications Can Anesthesia Errors Cause?

Because there are many different types of anesthetics and every patient is unique, anesthesia errors can potentially result in various kinds of complications, including:

Short-Term Effects

Anesthesia is meant to disrupt pain and sensory information between the brain and other parts of the body. As such, most patients may experience short-term effects, such as:

• Temporary loss of muscle reflexes
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Loss of responsiveness
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Decreased stress response

Some patients may also have temporary amnesia.

Sensation of Pain

When a patient does not receive enough medication or has a delayed delivery of anesthetics, they may experience excruciating pain.

Heart Problems

Cardiac complications can arise when a patient is not monitored adequately, or a negligent provider does not properly administer anesthesia. Patients can suffer from cardiac arrest or heart arrhythmia, which can lead to severe consequences for their overall health. 

Respiratory Problems

Anesthesia mistakes, including giving medications to an allergic patient, can sometimes cause respiratory problems, including respiratory distress, infection, or long-term respiratory issues. In some cases, patients inhale stomach contents into their lungs, resulting in pneumonia.

Brain Damage

Patients who do not receive oxygen to their brain can suffer brain damage and cognitive impairment. This damage can result in severe injuries and complications, including 

• Memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• Altered personality
• Motor function disruption

These effects can have life-long impacts on medical malpractice victims and their families. 

Allergic Reactions

Healthcare professionals who do not check a patient’s medical records can give them medication they are allergic to, causing serious allergic reactions. 

Nerve Damage 

Negligent healthcare providers may improperly place a needle or catheter during anesthesia administration, leading to nerve damage. Injury victims may experience paralysis or other effects of this negligent action.

Seizures or Stroke

Some anesthesia errors can cause seizures or strokes.

Death

In the most tragic cases, anesthesia mistakes cause victim death. 

Who Is Responsible for Anesthesia Errors?

Like other forms of medical malpractice, several different types of healthcare providers may share in liability for an anesthesia error. Hospital negligence may be to blame when the anesthesiologist works for the hospital or fails to supervise medical professionals properly. A negligent doctor may be to blame if they make an error in dosage. Their nurse or surgical staff may share this liability if their negligent actions contributed to the error. 

If you suspect you received negligent treatment, contact our experienced personal injury attorneys for assistance. We can investigate your case to determine whether a doctor, nurse, hospital staff member or other negligent provider is responsible for the harm you suffered. 

What Compensation Can I Recover After an Anesthesia Error?

If a negligent healthcare provider injured you, you may be able to recover compensation for the damages you suffered due to the misuse of the anesthetic. This could include compensation for additional medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, and pain and suffering. 

If you lost a loved one due to an anesthesiologist’s medical negligence, you could be eligible to file a wrongful death claim to seek financial compensation for:

• Final medical expenses
• Burial, cremation, or funeral costs
• Lost wages the victim would have earned
• Reduction in inheritance
• Loss of parental guidance
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of services

Learn about the potential damages available to you and your family when you contact our law firm for a free initial consultation.

How Can a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Help If You Have Been Harmed by Negligent Healthcare Providers?

Doctors and other healthcare providers are unlikely to readily admit their mistakes. Our experienced lawyers can thoroughly investigate the healthcare providers responsible for your injuries. Our comprehensive review may uncover evidence of medical neglect. We negotiate with the provider’s medical malpractice insurance for fair compensation on your behalf and discuss your legal options at every phase of the case. 

When you hire a personal injury attorney to represent you, you are choosing the person who will advocate for you and protect your interests. Some of the reasons you should consider hiring a medical malpractice attorney from Powers & Santola, LLP are:

• We are experienced – We have decades of combined legal experience and have handled thousands of medical malpractice cases in New York. Our results speak for themselves.
• We are knowledgeable – We have an in-depth understanding of New York’s medical malpractice and personal injury laws we can leverage to demand maximum compensation on your behalf.
• We work with leading medical experts – Expert testimony is often necessary to establish that your medical provider made a mistake. Our firm has a network of medical expert witnesses to call upon. 
• We provide compassionate legal counsel – Our legal professionals work closely with their clients. We provide you with sound legal advice based on the specifics of your case. 

Count on our dedicated legal representation during this challenging time. Take the first step in protecting your legal rights by reaching out to our experienced Albany anesthesia malpractice lawyers today.

What Is the Filing Deadline for Medical Malpractice Lawsuits in New York?

There are time limits to bring a medical malpractice claim in New York. The statute of limitations typically limits this type of legal action to two and a half years after the negligent action. However, you should not delay in beginning the legal process as evidence can get lost or destroyed. Seek a professional legal opinion today about whether you have viable legal claims.

What Should I Do If I Suspect Medical Negligence?

If you think a medical provider harmed you, follow these steps to protect your rights:

Seek Medical Care

Your health is the top priority. Talk to a new doctor about your suspicions. Your new doctor can conduct a physical and run tests to properly diagnose your injuries. This can also help create a paper trail that shows your concerns and that you took prompt action to resolve them. 

Request Your Medical Records

You have the right to receive your medical records. These records may include important clues about what went wrong in your care and who is responsible. You should request your records before you take any legal action related to your injuries. You do not have to explain why you want your records. 

Keep a Journal

Some of the damages you may be able to receive relate to the impact medical malpractice had on your life. You can help build your claim for damages by writing down your symptoms, feelings, level of pain, and the effects your injuries have on your life. It can be difficult to recall this level of detail months or years later, so it’s crucial to record this information contemporaneously. 

Contact an Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyer

While you concentrate on your health, a medical malpractice attorney can focus on protecting your rights and fighting for the fair compensation you deserve. Contact a lawyer as soon as possible so we can investigate your case and demand justice and accountability.