Anesthesia is one of the greatest innovations of modern medical practice. This state of sedation and pain prevention allows certain invasive procedures to be performed comfortably and safely. However, a mistake in the administration of the process can have devastating consequences for patients.
If you or a loved one has suffered harm due to a medical mistake, a Spartanburg anesthesia errors lawyer at KD Trail Lawyers could help you seek financial compensation in a malpractice claim. Our team of medical malpractice attorneys represents injured patients in Spartanburg and surrounding communities and works to secure the compensation they need.
The Different Uses of Anesthesia in Medicine
Anesthesia is a specialized drug used in medical procedures to temporarily block pain and sensation as well as sedate patients. There are four categories, and the most appropriate depends on the type of procedure. These include:
- General anesthesia: Used for major surgeries to suppress the central nervous system and results in unconsciousness
- Regional anesthesia: Blocks nerve transmissions to a large part of the body, often used for childbirth or limb procedures
- Local anesthesia: Dulls the pain in a smaller area for procedures such as stitches or tooth extractions
- Sedative anesthesia: Relaxes the patient to prevent anxiety for procedures such as colonoscopies
The drugs can either be injected or inhaled and are administered by a trained anesthesiologist. However, anesthetic drugs must be carefully chosen and managed, as even a small mistake could result in serious injuries to Spartanburg patients and lead to the need for legal assistance.
What Are Some Common Mistakes and Their Causes?
Properly administering the drugs is a very delicate process because several variables go into the process. This means there are many opportunities for someone to make a mistake, including the following. A claim may include damages for additional medical treatment, permanent disability, and emotional pain and suffering, depending on how any of the following errors have harmed you.
Using the Wrong Anesthetic
The most common error is choosing the wrong category or anesthetic. If a procedure only calls for general anesthesia, but the patient gets regional instead, they could experience extreme pain.
Improper Dosing
Another common error is improper dosage. Too much could lead to difficulty breathing, resulting in asphyxiation and a lack of oxygen in the brain. Too little, and the patient may still be aware during the procedure.
Improper Patient Monitoring
Because patients are often unconscious, they need to be continuously monitored by hospital staff to ensure their breathing, oxygen levels, heart rate, and other vital signs remain stable. Failing to do so could have life-threatening consequences. These errors are often due to negligent care by the anesthesiologist, doctor, or nurse and may result from inexperience, poor communication, or inadequate preparation.
Disregarding Patient History
Everybody reacts differently to the drugs, so the anesthesiologist must also take the patient’s history into account to avoid an allergic reaction or an adverse interaction with the patient’s prescription medication.
Patients in Spartanburg who have suffered injuries due to any of these serious anesthesia mistakes could recover compensation with the help of an attorney from the team at KD Trial Lawyers. However, it is important to note that under the South Carolina Code of Law § 15-79-125, these cases require litigants to follow specific statutory guidelines to bring these cases, including filing a Notice of Intent to File Suit and a pre-suit affidavit from an expert.
Contact an Anesthesia Malpractice Attorney in Spartanburg for Help
A Spartanburg anesthesia errors lawyer from KD Trial Lawyers could help you file a claim if you have been injured at the hospital or a doctor’s office. Our experienced medical malpractice team could be by your side from start to finish. We believe in being accessible to our clients, instead of having to go through other staff before seeing an attorney. Contact KD Trial Lawyers today to schedule a consultation with a member of our team.
(864) 585-5100