Houston Anesthesia Error Lawyer
Administering anesthesia is a delicate science, and an error can have devastating consequences, from causing allergic reactions to waking a patient up mid-surgery. If you’ve been the victim of an anesthesia error in Houston, the team at Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs can help you demand fair compensation for what you’ve suffered. Our board-certified injury lawyers have decades of experience helping clients recover from devastating injuries, and we can explain your best options for moving forward. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced medical malpractice attorney.
What Causes Anesthesia Errors?
Anesthesia errors occur when the team administering anesthesia to a patient makes mistakes before or during a medical procedure that cause a patient to suffer medical complications or other harm. Common causes of anesthesia errors include:
- Failure to ascertain the patient’s medical history that would reveal contraindications to anesthesia
- Prescribing an anesthetic contraindicated by the patient’s allergies, health conditions, or medication history
- Miscalculating the dosage of anesthetic, which may cause a patient to wake up during a procedure due to too little anesthetic or suffer health complications from too much anesthetic
- Failure to monitor the patient’s condition while under anesthesia
- Lack of communication among the anesthesia team or between the anesthesia team and the surgical team
- Failure to respond to complications during a procedure under anesthesia
- Failure to maintain or confirm the proper functioning of monitoring equipment
Common Injuries from Anesthesia Errors
Anesthesia errors can cause various types of injuries, health complications, or emotional trauma. The severity of anesthesia error injuries typically depends on how quickly medical providers respond to complications caused by an error. Common injuries that arise from anesthesia errors include:
- Brain damage: Lack of blood or oxygen flow to the brain due to complications from anesthesia can cause brain cells to die and permanently damage brain function, potentially leading to severe complications such as coma or vegetative state.
- Organ damage: Use of contraindicated anesthesia or administering too much anesthesia can also damage other internal organs.
- Heart attack or stroke: Improper use of anesthesia or failure to respond to signs of patient distress can result in a heart attack or stroke.
- Respiratory injuries: Improper intubation while under anesthesia can damage the respiratory tract.
- Anesthesia awareness: Administering too little anesthesia may result in a patient waking up during a procedure, which can inflict mental trauma due to the pain from the surgery or the emotional shock of experiencing the surgery or procedure.
Who Could Be Liable for Anesthesia Errors?
Different anesthesia team members, including the anesthesiologist, nurse, or other medical professional tending to the patient during a surgery or procedure, can be held liable for an anesthesia error. The hospital or facility where the procedure occurs can also be held liable for medical errors its employees commit.
Potentially Recoverable Damages After an Anesthesia Error
If you’ve suffered harm as a result of an anesthesia error, you could be owed compensation from the at-fault medical team. Your financial recovery in a medical malpractice lawsuit can include money for your:
- Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation for physical injuries, health complications, or mental trauma
- Lost wages/income if you miss time from work or earn less in a modified duty rule
- Lost future earning capacity and employment benefits if you become disabled
- Physical pain and anguish
- Emotional trauma and distress
- Lost quality of life due to prolonged or permanent disabilities
Contact Our Houston Medical Malpractice Attorneys Today
Have you been affected by a medication error in Houston, Texas? If so, contact Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Houston medical malpractice lawyer to discuss your legal options for recovering compensation.