When you go under anesthesia for a major surgery, you expect to wake up with the procedure complete and without any additional injuries. However, for some individuals, that isn’t what happens. They may find themselves waking up from anesthesia while the surgery is still ongoing, or discover that they sustained additional injuries while they were under.
If you are the victim of an anesthesia error, you may be able to seek compensation for your physical and psychological injuries through a medical malpractice lawsuit. By filing a lawsuit, you can hold the individuals and healthcare companies responsible for your injuries financially liable and prevent others from experiencing the same harm you did.
Injuries Caused by Anesthesia Malpractice
Anesthesia malpractice may include medication dosage errors, improper patient monitoring, and intubation errors. These errors can cause significant harm to patients, such as:
- Brain injuries caused by an anesthesia overdose or a lack of oxygen
- Nerve damage caused by needle placement or intubation errors
- Paralysis resulting from extreme nerve damage
- Stroke caused by incorrect anesthesia dosages paired with lax monitoring
- Cardiac arrest caused by the failure to monitor a patient’s vital signs
- Dental damage caused by improper intubation practices
What Is Anesthesia Awareness?
Anesthesia awareness occurs when a patient wakes up from anesthesia while still undergoing surgery. When this happens, the patient typically cannot move or inform the medical professionals of what has happened, leaving them to experience the continuation of their surgery while conscious.
Waking up during surgery can be a traumatic experience, leading victims to suffer from various psychological injuries, including anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These psychological injuries can be just as impactful as physical injuries caused by anesthesia malpractice, and may result from the same healthcare provider errors.
While you can seek compensation for your injuries related to anesthesia awareness, it’s crucial that you work with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer to do so. These injuries aren’t visible, which can make it challenging to prove them and recover the compensation you need.
Who Could Be Liable for Anesthesia Errors During a Surgery?
In many cases of anesthesia errors, the anesthesiologist is the person who could be liable for your injuries. They’re the person responsible for making sure you receive the correct drug dosage, that you aren’t allergic to the drugs used, and that your vital signs stay at an expected level.
However, the anesthesiologist isn’t the only one who could be at fault. The medical facility could be at fault for negligently hiring or failing to properly train the anesthesiologist, or for failing to maintain their equipment. And the equipment manufacturer could be at fault if defects in the equipment contributed to the incident.
What Compensation Is Available for Anesthesia Malpractice Victims?
Through medical malpractice lawsuits filed against the parties responsible for your anesthesia-related injuries, you could seek compensation for:
- Past and future medical costs
- Loss of income or earning potential
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, including fear of future medical treatment
Contact Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers Today
If you were injured or woke up during a surgery while under anesthesia in Rhode Island or Massachusetts, you may be entitled to compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit. Contact DeLuca, Weizenbaum, Barry & Revens, Ltd., for a free consultation with an experienced and knowledgeable medical malpractice attorney about your case.
Our team will help you explore your options for seeking compensation, including identifying the parties that could be financially responsible. We’ve successfully recovered millions for our deserving clients and are prepared to do what it takes to help you hold the parties who harmed you accountable.