Anesthesia is meant to make surgeries and medical procedures safer and more comfortable, helping patients avoid pain during the process. When something goes wrong, however, the consequences can be devastating. Anesthesia injuries happen when mistakes are made with giving the drugs, monitoring the patient, or handling complications.
These errors can cause long-term health problems, severe emotional trauma, and even death. If you or a loved one has suffered because of an anesthesia mistake in Fort Worth, you may have the right to file a personal injury claim. Here’s what you need to know.
What Are the Most Common Types of Anesthesia Injuries?
Every anesthesia-related injury is unique. Some cause mild, temporary effects like nausea or dizziness, while others lead to severe, long-term damage, including nerve injury, brain damage, or even death.
The severity depends on factors like the patient’s health, the type of anesthesia, and individual response.
Too Much Medication
If a patient is given too much of the medication, they can suffer brain damage, organ failure, and even fall into a coma. In severe cases, an overdose can be fatal.
Too Little Medication
Waking up during a surgery is a nightmare scenario. If the patient doesn’t get enough anesthesia, they might feel pain and awareness during the procedure but also be unable to move or speak to alert the doctors. Anesthesia awareness can easily cause severe psychological trauma.
Oxygen Deprivation
Anesthesiologists are supposed to carefully watch a patient’s oxygen levels during a surgery. If something goes wrong and the brain can’t get enough oxygen, it can cause permanent brain damage or even be fatal.
Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions to anesthesia are relatively rare, with only about one in 10,000 people experiencing them. However, if it does happen and the medical staff doesn’t check for allergies or respond quickly enough to a reaction, the situation can put the patient’s life in danger.
Intubation Injuries
Many forms of anesthesia require the patient to be intubated, or have a tube placed in the airway to help with breathing. If this isn’t done correctly, it can cause damage to the throat, paralyze the vocal cords, and block the airway.
What Causes Anesthesia Errors?
Mistakes with anesthesia are almost always the result of negligence or poor decision-making. Some of the most common causes involve:
- Lack of proper monitoring by doctors, which means they could miss early signs of trouble
- Dosage mistakes, with even the tiniest miscalculations capable of causing complications
- A breakdown in communication between hospitals and surgical teams
- Failure to check the patient’s medical history for allergies, medications, and past reactions
- Faulty machines, broken monitors, and outdated equipment
When a mistake happens, a number of people could be responsible. Many times, it’s the anesthesiologist themselves, who is responsible for making sure the medication is given safely. They’re human, just like the rest of the medical staff, and humans sometimes make mistakes.
Likewise, if a nurse or assistant doesn’t watch the patient’s vital signs properly, they can be held liable for any complications that show up later. Sometimes, this happens because of poor training, understaffing, or outdated equipment. If that’s the case, the hospital itself could be held responsible.
In some situations, the machines and the companies that made them are to blame. Faulty equipment can easily cause injury, especially when it’s not giving accurate information. As a result, the medical team might make a decision they wouldn’t have made otherwise. However, if the equipment failed because it wasn’t maintained, fault then typically falls back on the hospital.
What Should I Do if I’ve Suffered an Anesthesia Injury?
If you’ve been hurt because of an anesthesia mistake, it’s important to act quickly. Your health is the top priority, so always see your doctor first. If you don’t feel comfortable going back to the facility that caused the injury, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion. Either way, follow the provider’s advice to improve your chances of recovering.
Your records will likely be some of the strongest evidence in your case. Ask for copies of your anesthesia reports, surgery notes, and any test results. Take notes of what happened before, during, and after your procedure, along with dates, symptoms, and any conversations you had with the medical staff.
If you get a call from the hospital’s insurance company, don’t feel pressured to talk to them. They might try to get you to make a recorded statement, but you’re not obligated to give them one. Adjusters tend to look for ways to reduce or deny claims, so they may try to get you to say something they can use against you later. Refer them to your lawyer instead.
Contact a Fort Worth Personal Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Anesthesia cases can be some of the most complicated personal injury claims in Texas, and you need someone who knows the law intricately on your side. Our experienced team at Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers has a long-standing track record of success in securing valuable compensation for injured victims across the state.
We can evaluate the details of your situation and recommend your best options going forward. Call our Fort Worth personal injury lawyers at (817) 839-3143, or contact us online today to set up a free evaluation of your case.
