Any time you enter a hospital to undergo a procedure, there are risks involved. It is safe to say that most Pennsylvania residents are aware of some of these risks. However, the dangers associated with anesthesia errors often go overlooked. A big part of informing patients about their medical procedures involves talking about anesthesia as well as the procedure itself.
Just like surgeons, nurses and other members of a surgical team, the anesthesiologist has a huge responsibility to perform at or above established standards. When they fail to do so and a patient suffers injury, it could very well be a case of medical malpractice. In the interests of keeping you informed about medication risks and their associated legal remedies, here are three dangerous anesthesia errors all patients should know about.
Dosage errors: Administering medication during a medical procedure is different from giving a patient a shot or a pill. The anesthesiologist must monitor the patient throughout the procedure to ensure the right amount of anesthesia is used. Failure to do so could seriously injure the patient.
Flow rate errors: As mentioned above, anesthesiologists must monitor the patient carefully. If the anesthesiologist does not watch the patient and the intravenous (IV) equipment, too much fluid could enter the patient’s system and cause severe complications such as respiratory difficulties and increased blood pressure. Too little fluid transfer could also result in patient complications.
Residual anesthesia transfer: Occasionally, medical malpractice may occur if the IV equipment contains residual anesthetics left over from a previous treatment. If this residual matter passes into the patient’s bloodstream, it could result in injury. Further, unsanitary IV equipment could also transfer infection into the patient’s system.
Unfortunately, the result of anesthesia errors is usually injury and sometimes even death. A medical malpractice claim helps victims hold the parties responsible to account for their negligence. A successful claim also helps victims by providing them with financial compensation to seek further treatment for their anesthesia injuries.