Anesthesia-Related Medical Malpractice

Philadelphia & Lancaster, Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Anesthesia is commonly administered prior to surgeries and other medical procedures to put patients in a state of semiconsciousness or unconsciousness in order to prevent associated anxiety or pain.

But anesthesia can also be dangerous—even deadly—if not applied with precision and care. If you or a family member suffered serious personal injury due to a preventable anesthesia error, the experienced Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys at Atlee Hall may be able to help you recover the financial compensation you need and deserve.

Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia mistakes that are commonly the result of medical negligence include:

• Delayed anesthesia delivery
• Delayed reaction to anesthesia-related complications
• Failure to monitor a patient under anesthesia
• Failure to recognize avoidable allergic reactions
• Failure to recognize or repair defective equipment
• Incorrect dosage
• Infection caused by dirty equipment

Although it is an anesthesiologist’s job to administer and control the amount of anesthetic used, and to monitor the patient during the procedure, anesthesiologists are not always responsible for anesthesia errors. In some cases, attending physicians and nurses or hospital policies may be at least partially to blame.

Effects of Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia errors can result in a number of adverse effects, depending on individual patient factors, the mistake made and the medical response to the error. Harmful consequences of anesthesia errors include:

• Anesthesia awareness
• Asphyxia (lack of adequate oxygen)
• Brain injuries
• Cardiovascular injury
• Coma
• Death

Anesthesia mistakes can be especially dangerous to pregnant women, as they can affect both the mother and infant, sometimes resulting in birth injuries such as cerebral palsy.

If you or a loved one suffered harm due to an anesthesia error that you believe was the result of medical negligence, please contact the Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys at Atlee Hall for your free case evaluation. We proudly represent clients from Lancaster, Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania.