Anesthesia is critical during many medical procedures, but it can also be risky. You need a trained, experienced anesthesiologist providing this treatment, and your anesthesiologist must offer a professional, high-quality level of care.
When anesthesiologists make mistakes, the consequences of those errors can be dire. If you or someone you love suffers damage because an anesthesiologist doesn’t provide the proper level of care during your procedure, you may have a Philadelphia medical malpractice claim.
Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette, P.C., is here to help you evaluate your case and pursue justice if you were harmed by an anesthesiologist’s error. To find out more about how a Philadelphia anesthesia errors lawyer can help in your case, give us a call or contact us online today.
How Our Attorneys Can Help with an Anesthesia Error Case in Philadelphia
Anesthesia error cases often involve multiple healthcare providers and specialized standards of care. You need experienced legal counsel to help you build a strong claim and protect your rights.
Our attorneys can help by:
- Investigating the anesthesia procedures that led to your injury, including pre-operative evaluations, medication dosages, and post-operative care
- Obtaining and analyzing anesthesia charts, surgical notes, and other medical records
- Working with experienced medical experts to determine whether the standard of care was violated in your case
- Identifying all potentially liable parties, including anesthesiologists, CRNAs, surgeons, hospitals, etc.
- Handling all communications and negotiations with insurance companies and defense attorneys
- Calculating the full value of your damages, including long-term medical needs and non-economic losses
- Take your case to trial if a settlement cannot be reached
Our goal is to pursue the compensation you need to rebuild your life. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer.
Types Of Anesthesia Errors
Many different types of errors can occur when you undergo anesthesia, including:
- Errors with the dosage: You may receive too much or too little of the drug, causing you to wake up too early or causing you to suffer serious harm
- Wrong drug: If your anesthesiologist administers the wrong drug, your health is at risk.
- Allergic reaction: Your anesthesiologist must be careful not to administer a drug if you have a known allergy to that medication.
- Incorrect administration: Mistakes can be made when a drug is being administered. This could include incorrectly diluting the drugs, misusing equipment, or other errors
- Failure to monitor you correctly during the procedure: Anesthesiologists must carefully monitor your vital signs to take corrective action if there is a problem.
- Delivering the drug at the wrong time: Anesthesia should not be given either too early or too late, or it may not serve its purpose during a procedure.
These are just a few examples of anesthesia errors that our Philadelphia surgical errors lawyers can help you with. If an anesthesiologist’s care fell short of what a similarly trained professional would have offered, you may have the right to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit against the liable party.
What Are Your Rights If You Were The Victim Of An Anesthesia Error?
If you or someone you love suffered harm because of a mistake an anesthesiologist made, you should be able to pursue a compensation claim. You may be able to hold not just the anesthesiologist liable for your losses but also their employer as well, as hospitals and other care facilities that employ anesthesiologists are responsible for their on-the-job negligence.
You should be able to make the defendants pay compensation for both economic and non-financial loss resulting from the anesthesia error.
This means compensating you for:
- Medical bills due to the error
- Any extra work you missed because of the mistakes
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
When errors are fatal, wrongful death damages are also available for survivors and can include lost companionship and a lifetime of lost wages.
At Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette, P.C., we can help you understand your rights and enforce those rights by navigating the civil justice system as your advocate.
Types of Compensation in Anesthesia Error Lawsuits
If you were the victim of an anesthesia error, you may be entitled to compensation for your financial and personal losses. The economic and non-economic damages available will depend on the unique facts and circumstances of your claim.
Economic damages are designed to cover measurable financial losses related to the incident (both past and future), including:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Prescription medications and medical equipment
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
Non-economic damages compensate for the personal, non-monetary costs of the injury. These do not have a direct financial value and may include money for:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, anxiety, or depression
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability or cognitive impairment
- Scarring or disfigurement
In cases involving extreme misconduct, punitive damages may be available. However, these are rare in medical malpractice cases.
An experienced anesthesia error attorney can help identify every category of compensation available to you and pursue a recovery that makes you whole.
Legal Steps to Take After Experiencing an Anesthesia Error in Philadelphia
The steps you take after a suspected anesthesia error can significantly impact your health and any future Philadelphia hospital malpractice claim.
First, you should seek immediate medical care if you experience unusual symptoms such as memory loss, neurological challenges, breathing problems, severe pain, or prolonged unconsciousness after surgery.
Second, you should request copies of all medical records related to the procedure, including anesthesia records, operative reports, and post-anesthesia care notes.
Third, you should document your symptoms and recovery. Keep a written record of physical pain, cognitive changes, and limitations on daily activities. This information can help you establish your damages.
Fourth, you should avoid discussing the incident with insurance representatives or signing any releases without legal advice. Insurance companies may pressure you to settle before you know the full value of your claim, or they may try to obtain a statement that they can use against you later.
Lastly, you should consult a medical malpractice attorney. Anesthesia error cases involve strict filing deadlines and unique procedural requirements. Your attorney will help you navigate your claim and comply with all rules.
Contact A Philadelphia Anesthesia Errors Lawyer Today
Do not allow an anesthesia error to change the course of your life without holding the anesthesiologist and others involved in your procedure liable for your losses. Give us a call today at (610) 825-0500 to schedule your free consultation with a Philadelphia anesthesia errors lawyer to find out more about how we can fight for you.