Anesthesia errors can lead to serious personal injuries

When a patient is set to undergo a major medical procedure, they will most often be put under anesthesia. With proper administration, anesthesia makes procedures like amputations, tooth extraction and major surgeries possible.

But to err is human – and anesthesia mistakes are not uncommon. If an anesthesiologist’s mistakes result in injuries, you may hold the hospital or the anesthesiologist liable through a medical malpractice claim.

So what injuries are you likely to suffer due to anesthesia error?

Generally, the nature of injuries you sustain following anesthesia errors will depend on the nature of the error (anesthesia overdose or underdose) as well as the subsequent response. That said, some of the injuries you can sustain as a result of anesthesia errors include:

• Lack of oxygen supply to the body (Asphyxia)
• Paralysis or lack of bodily function
• Coma
• Organ damage
• Brain and spinal cord damage

In extreme cases, anesthesia mistakes can be fatal. Anesthesia-related injuries are caused by a number of factors. Here are some of them:

Failure to monitor the patient during the procedure

Besides administering anesthesia, an anesthesiologist is also responsible for monitoring the patient’s response during the procedure. They are also required to monitor the patient’s heart rate and oxygen levels. If they fail to monitor the patient, resulting in organ damage or even death, they may be liable.

Administering the wrong dosage

Anesthesia dosage errors can go two ways: underdose or overdose. An underdose can result in the patient waking up before the procedure is through. It can also cause the patient to experience pain. An overdose, on the other hand, can result in prolonged sedation, which can increase the patient’s risk of suffering organ damage.

Protecting your interests

Anesthesia errors can be devastating. Learning more about Ohio personal injury laws can help you safeguard your rights and interests while pursuing damages associated with anesthesia errors.