New York Anesthesia Error Attorneys

Experienced Medical Malpractice Attorneys Handling Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia is commonly administered in most surgical procedures today, whether the surgery is performed in a hospital, surgical center or a doctor’s office. Anesthesiologists must administer the medication safely and monitor the patient’s vital signs and level of consciousness throughout the surgical procedure. Any mistake in dosage or the type of anesthesia that is administered can result in serious consequences for the patient undergoing the surgery.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or died as result of an anesthesia error, you need to hire a law firm that specifically handles these types of case to help you hold the at-fault party or parties accountable. At Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C., we build upon more than 30 years of experience and resources to handle medical malpractice lawsuit, including anesthesia error. Our experienced and compassionate lawyers in New York treat each client with the compassion and respect they deserve in obtaining the benefits they are entitled to.

3 Different Types of Anesthesia Commonly Administered

The specific type of anesthesia that is administered depends on various factors, such as the health of the patient and the surgical procedure involved. There are three basic types of anesthesia.

• Local anesthesia only numbs a certain part of the body that is being operated on, such as the hand, foot or shoulder.
• Regional anesthesia blocks pain in a specific part of the body, such as the sensation below the waist during a caesarean section for child birth.
• General anesthesia brings about a state of unconsciousness by placing the entire body, including the brain, into a deep sleep. The patient will feel nothing and will have no recollection of the surgical experience.

Common Types of Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia errors can occur in variety of different wasy. These types of medical malpractice errors may be caused by a number of factors, such as defective equipment and simple human error. Common types of anesthesia error include:

• Too much anesthesia
• Too little anesthesia
• Failing to provide the patient with proper instructions, such as not eating or drinking prior to surgery
• Harmful drug interactions with the anesthesia
• Administering anesthesia to an allergic patient
• Delayed anesthesia delivery
• Defective medical devices used during sedation
• Failure to properly monitor a patient
• Failure to properly administer oxygen during surgery
• Inadequate product labeling

In situations where the anesthesia error was caused by the negligence or recklessness of the medical staff that administered the anesthesia, the victim may file a medical malpractice lawsuit to recover damages. The experienced legal team at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. will work with you and your loved ones to hold the at-fault parties accountable for your injuries.

Physical Injuries Caused By Anesthesia Error

All types of anesthesia have the potential to cause serious injuries or even death if not properly administered or monitored. Some adverse effects of anesthesia errors may include:

• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Stroke
• Nerve damage
• Spinal cord injury
• Paralysis
• Asphyxia
• Heart attack
• Birth defects
• Coma
• Death

Regardless of what type of injury you or a loved one suffered as a result of anesthesia error, the medical malpractice attorneys at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. will work hard to hold the right parties accountable and help you obtain compensation for your past and future medical bills, loss of wages, pain and suffering, emotional anguish and any other damages resulting from the error.

Anesthesia Awareness

One of the most traumatizing anesthesia errors is called anesthesia awareness. This happens when the patient receives too little anesthesia or the delivery of anesthesia is delayed. During anesthesia awareness you are conscious of what is going on during the procedure, and often in extreme pain. However, since you are paralyzed and unable to move, you are unable to communicate your level of suffering. Anesthesia awareness may also occur when victims wake up disoriented in the middle of surgery.

Some common emotional and psychological damage from anesthesia awareness that can affect your life indefinitely, include:

• Emotional and Psychological Effects of Anesthesia Awareness
• Panic and anxiety disorders
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Sleep disorders
• Flashbacks
• Extreme fear of doctors and medical settings

Anesthesia error cases are complex. The anesthesiologist is often the first person we look at for poor record keeping and failure to properly evaluate a patient. There are a few different types of mistakes that are often made by doctors, nurses and other staff in these cases. It is not unusual, therefore, to have a case with multiple parties at fault.

Anesthesia Error Statistics

As a patient, the last thing you want to think about is the possibility of an anesthesia error occurring during your surgery. Unfortunately, this type of medical negligence can result in serious injuries.  According to a study conducted by Columbia University, approximately 300 anesthesia-related deaths occur each year in the United States. The study revealed that of these deaths:

• 6 percent were caused by anesthetics overdose
• 5 percent were related to the adverse effects of anesthetics during therapeutic use
• 6 percent occurred during pregnancy or labor
• The remaining 7.3 percent were due to other complications

Call an Experienced Anesthesia Error Lawyer

If you or someone you know has been the victim of medical malpractice that involved the erroneous administration or monitoring of anesthesia, you need knowledgeable and experienced New York medical malpractice attorneys on your side to fight for your legal rights. The attorneys at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. have been winning cases involving medical negligence for years. We are ready to hear the facts of your case and answer any questions that you may have.

For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our experienced attorneys in New York, please call us at 1-800-529-9997 or fill out a New York Personal Injury Case Consultation form. We handle personal injury cases in New York and New Jersey.

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