Medical Malpractice Lawyer Virginia Beach
Sandy sat in the waiting room, nursing a cup of coffee. Her husband had gone in for what was supposed to be a routine surgery. Three hours later, instead of hearing the good news that all was well, Sandy listened to the words no one should ever have to hear:
“I’m so sorry. There were complications with the anesthesia.”
Sandy later found out that the anesthesiologist had administered too much medication, causing Daniel’s heart to stop. By the time the surgical team realized what had happened, it was too late to fix the problem. Sophia was left to deal with not only her grief and loss but a persistent question: Could this have been prevented?
Our Virginia Beach medical malpractice lawyers can answer that question. At Shapiro, Washburn, & Sharp, we are experienced in anesthesia error cases. We can investigate the evidence of your case and help you determine your next steps. Call us at 833-997-1774 for a free consultation.
What Are Anesthesia Errors?
Anesthesia is a medical treatment that prevents patients from feeling pain during processes like surgery. It involves the use of medications called anesthetics that cause a patient to lose feeling or awareness. Whereas local anesthesia—such as you may experience during a dental procedure—numbs only a small area of the body, general anesthesia—such as that which is normally used during major surgery—affects the whole body, rendering the patient unconscious.
An anesthesia error occurs when the anesthesiologist or medical professional makes a mistake when administering anesthetics during a medical procedure. Such errors can result in severe consequences, like brain damage, paralysis, or even death.
What Are Some Common Anesthesia Errors?
According to a 2019 study published in The Southern Medical Journal, anesthetic errors decreased between 2007 and 2014, but 17,116 errors were still reported in U.S. hospitals. These errors were usually caused by incorrect administration of anesthetic drugs—either an overdose or the use of inappropriate medications.
Overdose of Anesthesia
This occurs when the anesthesiologist gives the patient too much of the anesthetic drug, which can cause respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, or brain damage due to a lack of oxygen. The anesthesiologist may have miscalculated the dosage, failed to adjust for the patient’s weight and medical history, or administered multiple drugs without proper monitoring.
Underdose of Anesthesia
Just as an anesthesiologist may give too much of an anesthetic, they may also provide too little. This can happen if they underestimate the amount of medication needed or fail to recognize a patient’s high tolerance for the drugs. This can cause the patient to wake up during surgery or to experience pain or distress.
Failure to Monitor Vital Signs
An anesthesiologist must carefully attend to the patient during surgery, tracking heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. If they fail to do that or become distracted—or if they are simply tired and not paying attention—that could lead to complications for the patient.
Intubation Errors
If the anesthesiologist lacks experience, rushes the procedure, or is somehow impaired, they may misplace the breathing tube or commit some other type of intubation error, resulting in complications.
Allergic Reactions or Drug Interactions
The anesthesiologist is responsible for checking the patient’s medical history and must know of any allergies or contraindications to certain drugs. If the professional fails to be thorough in this area, the patient may suffer from life-threatening reactions.
When Is an Anesthesia Error Medical Malpractice?
Not all medical errors are considered medical malpractice. Negligence must be involved, which means the healthcare provider failed to meet the standard of care expected in their field, leading to patient harm.
To prove that the error was due to medical malpractice, you and your medical malpractice attorney must have the evidence to support your argument.
Medical Records
These would show a detailed history of the type of anesthetics used, the dosages administered, and the patient’s vital signs throughout the procedure.
Expert Testimony
This is a key component of a successful claim. A qualified medical expert—preferably another anesthesiologist—would analyze the case and determine whether the at-fault professional followed standard protocols.
Eyewitness Testimony
Sometimes, nurses, surgeons, or other operating room staff may step forward to provide additional information about what happened.
Hospital Protocols and Guidelines
It can help to review these and compare them to what happened during the procedure. Some deviations may show up that led to the patient’s death.
Autopsy Reports
If the patient dies because of an anesthesia error, an autopsy can provide detailed evidence showing the cause of death. It may also reveal what the preventable errors were.
Incident Reports
Some hospitals document unexpected medical complications. If these applied in your case, getting copies of them can provide additional evidence in your case.
How Can a Medical Malpractice Attorney Help?
A medical malpractice claim involving an anesthesia error can be challenging to prove. Our skilled attorneys can increase the odds that you and your family will receive the compensation you deserve. Contact us at Shapiro, Washburn, & Sharp today. We understand how to work with medical experts to analyze medical records to determine whether medical malpractice occurred. We will help gather the evidence you need to support your claim and negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf.
Though some medical malpractice claims settle well before a scheduled trial, we will do all that’s necessary to fight for your rights—meaning putting forward the best evidence in support of your claim to increase the likelihood of obtaining fair compensation. If the other side refuses to negotiate or to agree to a fair settlement, we have no problem preparing for and trying your case before a jury.
If you think that something went wrong involving the anesthesia used in your loved one’s surgery, don’t hesitate to obtain a free consultation. We will do everything we can to help, as we did for this young mother whose baby suffered a serious injury because of medical malpractice, concluding with a $1 million settlement for her and her child.
Feel free to locate us in Virginia Beach, Hampton, Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Chesapeake.
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