Have you suffered serious injury or complications due to anesthesia mistakes in Fort Lauderdale, FL? Anesthesia errors can leave patients with life-changing or fatal injuries. A Fort Lauderdale anesthesia error lawyer can help you pursue fair compensation for your anesthesia injuries.
Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers has represented injured patients and families in South Florida since 1996. Contact our law office to schedule a free case review to discuss what we can do to help you. We are available 24/7 at (954) 287-0566.
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How Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers Can Help with an Anesthesia Error Injury Case in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Undergoing surgery is frightening, but you trust your medical team to give you the best care possible. When a preventable anesthesia mistake causes you injuries, you should be able to hold the at-fault parties accountable. A Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice lawyer can help you seek the fair compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers was founded by Gregg M. Hollander. Attorney Hollander has represented injury victims for over 28 years. When you choose our law office to represent you, you will receive small-firm personal attention with large-firm resources.
In every case, we strive to:
- Provide sound legal advice and support you can depend on
- Investigate your procedure to determine how you were injured
- Work with medical experts to establish negligence
- Document the full extent of the financial and personal injuries you suffered
- Negotiate on your behalf for a fair settlement
- Present a compelling case to a jury if your case goes to trial
Contact Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We will help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
How Common Are Anesthesia Errors?
You trust that you will be as safe as possible when you go under general anesthesia before surgery. There are always risks with surgery and anesthesia. However, an avoidable mistake by a professional should not be one of them.
Sadly, anesthesia errors are more common than we would like to believe. One analysis found there were 17,116 anesthesia mistakes reported in the United States between 2007 and 2014. The study found the rate of errors dropped dramatically over time, from 2,483 errors in 2007 to 1,381 mistakes in 2014.
This analysis found 131 reported deaths linked to anesthesia errors, with the anesthesia death rate dropping from 0.85% to 0.79% during these years.
Overview of Anesthesia Errors
An anesthesia error is a type of surgical error that involves medical negligence. Medical malpractice happens when a medical provider fails to deliver the proper standard of care and causes injury to a patient.
Many surgical errors are considered “never events” by the National Quality Forum. These are mistakes that have serious consequences but are easily preventable. This includes errors that lead to intraoperative or immediate post-op death in otherwise normal, healthy patients. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) defines these as Class 1 patients.
If the mistake could have been prevented with current medical knowledge, reasonable skill, and attention, it may be considered malpractice.
How Do Anesthesia Errors Happen?
There are many ways an anesthesia error may occur. However, these errors are often due to professional negligence.
The following are the most common anesthesia mistakes:
- Failure to monitor the patient properly for signs of distress or complications
- Failure to intubate or intubation injuries
- Anesthesia dosage mistakes
- Failure to recognize complications
- Delayed delivery of anesthesia due to IV mistakes, vaporizer leakage, and other issues
- Turning off the pulse oximeter alarm
- Improper administration of oxygen
- Sedation for a dangerously long time
- Communication errors between the anesthesiologist and patient or other professionals
- Allergic reactions to anesthesia which could have been foreseen based on the patient’s medical history
Anesthesia has become much safer over the last thirty years. Improvements in anesthesia medication and technology combined with increasing specialization in anesthesia have reduced its risks. There are now subspecialties in anesthesia, such as obstetric anesthesia and cardiothoracic anesthesia. However, there are still risks, especially when a professional makes an avoidable mistake.
Your Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice attorney will conduct a thorough investigation into your procedure to determine what went wrong.
Common Injuries Associated with Anesthesia Mistakes
Medical malpractice involving anesthesia errors can cause a range of injuries and complications.
At Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, we represent patients who have suffered the following types of injuries due to anesthesia error:
- Severe allergic reaction
- Overdose
- Brain injuries or permanent brain damage
- Acute or chronic pain
- Nerve injuries
- Teeth damage
- Organ damage
- Cardiac arrest
- Wrongful death
Between 2007 and 2012, the most frequent injuries reported in anesthesia injury claims were dental damage (20.8%), death (19.3%), nerve damage (13.5%), and organ damage (12%).
Wrongful death was the top injury in anesthesia claims between 1990 and 2007 after teeth damage. While the rate of death has decreased, the rate of claims for monitored anesthesia care (MAC) has increased. The MAC technique uses a lower amount of anesthetic, but it has a higher rate of death than regional and general anesthesia.
Who Is Liable for an Anesthesia Error?
When anesthesia mistakes are due to negligence, it is usually the anesthesiologist at fault. However, other medical providers can be liable for anesthesia mistakes.
A physician or surgeon may be held liable for mistakes. The physician may have documented the type of drug needed based on the injury, surgical technique, or the patient’s health history. Nursing staff errors can also lead to anesthesia injuries due to a lack of monitoring or judgment errors. The hospital can also be held accountable in some circumstances.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Fort Lauderdale Medical Malpractice Law Firm
When you are injured due to anesthesia mistakes, it’s crucial to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney in Fort Lauderdale, FL about your malpractice claim.
Malpractice claims are complex, and the statute of limitations means you have just two years to file a lawsuit in most cases.
Do not delay. Call Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation with a Fort Lauderdale anesthesia error lawyer. We will help you explore your legal options for seeking fair compensation for your injuries.
