OUR EXPERT LAWYERS HANDLE ANESTHESIA MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAWSUITS IN GEORGIA
Anesthesia malpractice occurs when an anesthesiologist or healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care in administering anesthesia. The mortality rate from anesthesia has significantly improved from 1 in 6000 administrations to 1 in 200,000 due to enhanced medical practice. Anesthesia awareness occurs when a patient becomes conscious during surgery and is unable to move or communicate, affecting approximately 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 cases.
Going under anesthesia is a huge medical procedure. If incorrectly executed, the effects on the patient can have serious consequences. While most of the time use of anesthesia is effective, at times it is unsuccessful and the consequences are often as serious as death.
Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC, our professional, competent, and experienced attorneys often handle cases where the negligence of a medical professional resulted in injuries. We have access to the resources needed to properly review your case and medical records. Contact an anesthesiologist negligence lawyer by calling us at 404-760-7400.
We serve anesthesia patient injury victims from Atlants, Savvanah, Columbus, Decatur, or anywhere in Georgia.
TRENDS IN ANESTHESIA MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CLAIMS
Anesthesiology has led other specialties in reducing the risk of patient harm since the mid-1980s, due to improved clinical practice guidelines. The mortality rate from anesthesia has significantly improved from 1 in 6,000 administrations to 1 in 200,000 due to advancements in practice. The frequency of claims against anesthesiologists remained stable between 2005 and 2013, with a small decrease of 1 to 2 percent in claims in 2014 and 2015.
The three most common types of anesthesia medical malpractice claims accounted for 63 percent of total anesthesia claims in the first study and increased to 65 percent in the subsequent study. Tooth damage claims make up approximately 22 to 23 percent of all anesthesia claims.
POTENTIAL DANGER FROM GENERAL ANESTHESIA
It used to be that anesthesiologists only worked in hospitals. However, now they practice in hospitals, dental offices, cosmetic clinics, and spas. The anesthesiologist has an extremely important job. It involves administering anesthesia and monitoring the vital signs, including heart rate and breathing. Communication errors between medical staff are the primary issue in 75% of anesthesia error death cases.
Anesthesiologists must administer the correct dosage of anesthesia to avoid causing harm. Regional anesthesia awareness occurs when a patient becomes conscious during surgery while unable to move or communicate due to muscle paralysis. Patients may suffer from aspiration pneumonia due to the risk of aspirating food or liquid into their lungs during anesthesia.
Complications caused by anesthesia errors include nausea, vomiting, and post-operative pain. A major issue caused by anesthesia malpractice is brain damage due to a lack of oxygen during surgery, known as hypoxia. One of the most common injuries caused by anesthesia malpractice is organ failure when vital organs are compromised due to errors in anesthesia management. Other serious effects of medical negligence from anesthesia include paralysis, overdose, and positional injuries.
THE SAFETY OF PATIENTS DURING LOCAL ANESTHESIA
The introduction of new technologies in anesthesia care has enhanced patient safety significantly. Documentation of preoperative conditions and informed consent are critical to reducing anesthesia risks. The administration of anesthetics requires continuous monitoring of the patient’s vital signs throughout the procedure.
Anesthesiologists must ensure that patients are moved regularly to prevent nerve damage. Monitoring equipment is a vital part of a surgical procedure, alerting medical staff to patient distress. Depth-of-anesthesia monitors can help reduce the risk of anesthesia awareness during surgery.
Pulse oximetry is an important advancement that helps improve patient safety during anesthesia. Improper monitoring can lead to serious injuries like an anoxic brain injury or even respiratory failure.
HOW OUR ATTORNEYS CAN HELP WITH YOUR ANESTHESIA ERROR CLAIM
Patients are at increased risk of suffering harm from anesthesia if they have comorbidities that complicate the anesthesia process. The only way to determine if your reaction was from anesthesia is to have a trained professional examine your situation. Compensation for victims of anesthesia malpractice can include economic damages, which cover quantifiable monetary losses such as medical bills and lost income.
Our attorneys will argue for maximum recovery in your situation by making an argument for:
- Compensation
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Past and future medical expenses
- Loss of consortium
- Death
Compensation for victims of anesthesia malpractice can also include non-economic damages, which address intangible losses like pain, suffering, and emotional distress. Compensation amounts in anesthesia malpractice cases may vary based on jurisdictional differences and caps on non-economic damages.
READ WHAT OUR PATIENTS ARE SAYING!
” My siblings and I engaged Chance, Forlines, Carter & King during an extremely stressful time in our lives, and we are thankful that they provided a warm working environment. We were highly impressed by their level of knowledge, their efficiency and their extreme professionalism. From our first contact to our very last conversation, we felt that our team at LCFCK genuinely cares about helping people.”
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CONTACT A GEORGIA ANESTHESIA MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ATTORNEY
Legal representation is crucial for patients involved in anesthesia medical malpractice cases to navigate the complexities of the legal process. To prove anesthesia malpractice, plaintiffs must demonstrate that the healthcare provider’s negligence caused the injuries or worsened the patient’s condition. If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligence of a medical professional, you need to speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible.
Contact one of our attorneys online or by calling us at 404-760-7400. Patients can seek free case evaluations from our anesthetic malpractice lawyers to understand their options. We represent clients throughout Georgia including Atlanta, Columbus, Savannah, Decatur, Augusta, and Chattanooga, TN.
TESTIMONIALS
"My siblings and I engaged Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC during an extremely stressful time in our lives, and we are thankful that they provided a warm working environment. We were highly impressed by their level of knowledge, their efficiency and their extreme professionalism. From our first contact to our very last conversation, we felt that our team at LCFCK genuinely cares about helping people."
V. FORD