What This Page Covers:
- Anesthesia: Anesthesia is crucial for pain-free procedures, but errors can lead to severe injuries and medical malpractice claims.
- Liability: Potentially liable parties for anesthesia errors include doctors, anesthesiologists, nursing staff, and equipment manufacturers.
- Damages: Victims of anesthesia errors can seek economic and non-economic damages, including medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering.
- Davis & Davis: Davis & Davis offers experienced legal representation for anesthesia error claims, ensuring personalized attention and a commitment to achieving fair compensation.
- To schedule a free consultation, call us at (888) 522-9444 or fill out our contact form.
In order to ensure a safe, painless procedure, anesthesia is employed to dull and block your awareness. It is an anesthesiologist’s job to stop your nerves from sending pain signals to your brain so a medical professional can complete your surgical procedure without any complications. This part of the procedure is typically quick and easy, but mistakes may still occur. This form of medical malpractice causes patients serious injuries. If you’ve been injured due to an anesthesia error, you have the right to file a claim, seek financial compensation, and hold the liable party accountable.
With the help of the experienced anesthesia error lawyers at Davis & Davis, you can have the best chance of achieving the compensation you deserve while focusing on recovery. We are skilled in medical malpractice claims and have more than 70 years of combined experience handling the most complex cases. When managing your claim, we will work with you every step of the way to create a customized legal plan based on your needs. This dedication and our reliable communication give you the peace of mind you are in the right hands.
Who Could Be Liable for Anesthesia Errors?
With multiple parties involved in your procedure, you may not know whose negligence caused your anesthesia-related injuries. Liability may also extend to other medical professionals involved in the patient’s treatment. Our diligent Houston anesthesia error lawyers can help identify liable parties and gather evidence to prove their careless actions caused your damages. Potentially responsible parties for anesthesia errors may include the following:
Your Doctor
In many cases, the physician directs the surgeon on what type of anesthesia is needed for the medical procedure and where surgery is required. Your doctor is also your surgeon’s first point of contact throughout your treatment, so if the surgeon receives poor instructions, your doctor could be liable for your injuries.
Anesthesiologist
The anesthesiologist is the primary responsible party for administering the drug properly and ensuring you remain unconscious for the duration of your surgery. Administering too little anesthesia can lead to inadequate pain management and awareness during surgery, posing significant risks such as psychological trauma and lingering effects for the patient. They have been specifically trained to administer the anesthesia and address any potential negative outcomes.
Nursing Staff
Other nursing staff members may be present during your surgery to assist the surgeon and anesthesiologist. Therefore, if they distract the surgeon, provide the wrong materials, or fail to monitor you during the procedure, they may be liable for your injuries.
Manufacturer
In some cases, an anesthesia error occurs due to defective equipment. Whether the defect is in the product’s design or an entire batch, the equipment manufacturer may be responsible in addition to the hospital and sales distributor.
Potentially Recoverable Damages After an Anesthesia Error
Anesthesia errors can cause serious injuries, like brain damage, heart problems, and blood pressure complications. It is crucial to file a medical malpractice lawsuit within the statute of limitations to preserve evidence and pursue compensation. These injuries can take a toll on many aspects of your life, so you deserve a hardworking Houston anesthesia error lawyer who will fight for full compensation for your damages, which may include the following types of compensation:
Economic Damages
Economic damages help cover the tangible financial losses after an anesthesia error, such as:
- Past, present, and future medical bills
- Lost wages from missed work
- Loss of earning capacity
- Surgery costs
- Prescribed medications
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
These are easily calculated by our team using the collection of relevant evidence. An anesthesia error can result in long-lasting and expensive damages, which will be accounted for in your economic damages.
Non-Economic Damages
On the other hand, non-economic damages will help cover the losses that are not easily defined or measured, such as:
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Permanent disability
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
Proving medical negligence is crucial to recovering compensation for non-economic damages.
When collecting compensation in Texas anesthesia error cases, it’s important to note state law places a cap on non-economic damages for medical malpractice claims. If only one medical professional or institution is involved in your claim, the non-economic damage cap is $250,000. If multiple parties are involved, the damages are limited to $500,000.
Our Houston anesthesia error lawyers can help accurately calculate your claim’s worth so you may achieve a fair settlement.
How Our Lawyers Can Help With Your Houston Anesthesia Error Claim
While you can attempt to handle your anesthesia error claim on your own, you deserve time to prioritize your recovery instead of worrying about the complicated legal process. You also risk making mistakes and overlooking crucial details without the help of an experienced medical malpractice attorney. At Davis & Davis, we fight for your rights every step of the way and handle all aspects of your claim with careful attention, including the following:
- Conducting a detailed investigation
- Gathering and analyzing evidence
- Interviewing eyewitnesses
- Filing your claim within the statute of limitations deadline
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Utilizing medical professionals and expert testimony to strengthen your claim
- Using our extensive knowledge to answer your legal questions
- Taking your claim to court if necessary
Nobody deserves to pay the financial or physical price of a trusted medical professional’s reckless behavior. Our compassionate and knowledgeable anesthesia error lawyers understand the physical, emotional, and financial hardships you may be facing after suffering injuries from anesthesia errors. Therefore, we listen to your story during your free consultation and will ensure there are no upfront fees. Ultimately, we strive to seek the justice you deserve and give you a stress-free legal experience.
Reach Out to the Trustworthy Anesthesia Error Lawyers at Davis & Davis to Schedule a Free Consultation
The aftermath of an anesthesia error can be overwhelming and devastating, especially if your injuries could have been prevented. Fortunately, you do not have to go through it alone. Our dedicated lawyers at Davis & Davis are here to help you hold the at-fault party accountable and protect your rights from start to finish.
Our lawyers have the skills and knowledge to take on your claim, regardless of the circumstances. We handle claims with a singular focus on medical malpractice, which sets us apart from other firms. Our team also communicates with you throughout the entire process, keeping you informed and helping you make the best decisions for your financial future. To schedule a free consultation, call us at (888) 522-9444 or fill out our contact form.
Q&A
What constitutes medical malpractice in anesthesia administration?
Medical malpractice occurs in anesthesia administration when a medical professional fails to meet the accepted standard of care, causing harm to the patient. This can include giving too much anesthesia, leading to severe complications or anesthesia injury, or not providing enough, which may result in the patient remaining conscious or experiencing “anesthesia awareness” during surgery. When these errors occur, injured patients have the right to pursue a medical malpractice claim to seek compensation for their suffering and damages.
What should I do if I experience anesthesia awareness during surgery?
If you experience anesthesia awareness—remaining partially or fully conscious during surgery—you may face lasting psychological effects, such as anxiety and PTSD. It’s crucial to discuss your experience with your healthcare provider and seek medical documentation. This documentation can be valuable if you choose to file a medical malpractice claim, as it serves as evidence of the anesthesia error and the trauma it caused. Consulting a skilled anesthesia injury attorney, like those at Davis & Davis in Houston, can help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation you may be entitled to.
How is liability determined in cases of anesthesia-related medical errors?
Liability in anesthesia-related medical errors can extend to several parties. An anesthesiologist may be responsible if they failed to administer the correct dosage or monitor the patient effectively. Nurses or other medical staff could also be liable if their actions led to the anesthesia error. In cases where too much anesthesia was administered due to faulty equipment, the equipment manufacturer might share liability. Working with a knowledgeable medical malpractice lawyer is essential to thoroughly investigate and determine who is at fault in an anesthesia injury case.
What are the common causes of anesthesia injuries in medical malpractice claims?
Anesthesia injuries in medical malpractice claims often result from mistakes like administering too much anesthesia, which can cause heart and respiratory complications, or providing insufficient anesthesia, which can lead to anesthesia awareness. These injuries might also arise from improper patient monitoring, equipment malfunctions, or failure to consider a patient’s medical history. Each case requires a detailed review to identify the source of the error and any contributing factors.
How can an anesthesia error lawyer assist with a medical malpractice claim?
An experienced anesthesia error lawyer is invaluable in navigating the complexities of a medical malpractice claim. They assist by gathering and analyzing critical medical records, consulting with medical professionals, and building a compelling case to demonstrate how medical errors caused your anesthesia injury. This comprehensive approach helps secure fair compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and emotional distress, ensuring you are fully supported throughout the legal process. To discuss your case and explore your options, contact Davis & Davis at (888) 522-9444 or fill out our contact form here.