Anesthesia is extremely safe to use, with the most serious complications being rare. However, when malpractice occurs, the outcome can be devastating. Anesthesia errors are mistakes made during the administration, monitoring, or management of the medication, whether general, regional, local, or sedation, during surgical procedures. Mistakes can lead to severe and life-threatening harm or death.
You must hold the provider legally and financially responsible if their actions failed to meet the standard of care and caused you harm. Meet with our hard-working Columbia anesthesia errors lawyer soon to review your case and options. Contact the office of Whetstone Perkins & Fulda to schedule a consultation with a knowledgeable medical malpractice attorney.
What Are the Most Common Mistakes?
The administration of anesthesia is a complex and delicate process, involving many variables, and without careful attention, there are many opportunities for mistakes. When they fail to follow protocol and pay close attention, medical providers could put a patient in danger. The most common types of errors occurring in recent years include the following:
- Administration of the incorrect type of medicine, which comes in various forms and may be local, regional, or general
- Dosage miscalculations, leading to overdose, respiratory depression, and cardiac issues, or underdosing, leading to patient awareness during the surgery
- Neglecting to properly monitor the patient’s vital signs, including inadequate oxygen levels, blood pressure, heart rate, or breathing
- Airway or intubation issues
- Equipment misuse or malfunctions, such as faulty anesthesia machines, infusion pumps, or monitoring devices
- Delays in administration, inadequate preoperative assessments, such as missing allergies to medication, or communication breakdowns among the staff and surgical teams
A majority of issues stem from human error or system issues, resulting from haste, fatigue, and heavy workloads. Our Columbia anesthesia errors attorney has extensive experience handling these cases and could guide you through the steps to file your claim and navigate the civil court process.
South Carolina Medical Malpractice Claims
State legislation applies to licensed providers, including physicians, surgeons, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and facilities. Pursuant to South Carolina Code § 15-79-110, medical malpractice occurs when a certified healthcare provider fails to meet the minimum standard, providing the level of care that another reasonably prudent provider would in the same or similar circumstances. Winning an award for your damages requires a careful investigation and review to gather all the evidence needed to prove that the elements of negligence exist.
The first element is provider-patient relationship, which creates a legal duty to meet the standard of care. Second, evidence is needed to show that a breach occurred, and the doctor deviated from what another reasonably competent provider would have done in similar circumstances. Third, causation provides evidence that the physician’s breach was a direct cause of the injuries you sustained. Finally, damages require you to show that you suffered actual harm, such as bodily harm, financial losses, and pain and suffering, because of medical malpractice.
During your consultation, our anesthesia errors lawyer in Columbia could review the specifics of your case to determine whether all necessary elements are present and whether there is cause to move forward with legal action.
Reach Out to a Compassionate Anesthesia Errors Attorney in Columbia Today
Anesthesia errors occur when a physician or other medical professional makes a preventable mistake during the administration of drugs during the surgical procedure. Advanced medicine is crucial for pain management and sedation during surgeries, medical procedures, or dental work.
However, when negligence occurs, the patient can sustain severe and lasting consequences. You could be eligible for compensation to cover your damages and losses if you suffered harm because of negligence. Contact our office to schedule an appointment with our Columbia anesthesia errors lawyer to learn more.
