Anesthesia Mistakes
If you fear the thought of going to sleep for a procedure, you are not alone. People fear undergoing a medical procedure simply because it involves anesthesia. Adults are not the only ones who undergo anesthesia either. Kids involve anesthesia for simple procedures like having their adenoids removed, or even having an audiology test after they moved too much, and the doctor could not get a proper assessment on their part.
In 2015, Medscape reported a medical malpractice summary involving about 4,000 healthcare practitioners. The study was divided between men and women anesthesiologist. Only 5% of men and 2% of women anesthesiologist were sued by themselves alone.
However, in lawsuits involving entire medical staff anesthesiologist were amongst the physicians most mentioned, 57% and 40% of men and women, respectively. The reasons for lawsuit mentioned during the study stated serious situations such as a loss of life, brain related injury, cardiac arrest, air blockage, overdose, hospital contracted infections, amongst others.
Anesthesia mistakes can result in long and short-term effects that can lead you and your family in debt. If you have been injured due to a mistake by an anesthesiologist, it’s important you contact an attorney. You could be entitled to compensation for damages you endured because of medical malpractice.
Lawyer for Medical Malpractice in Atlanta, GA
If you or your loved one suffered a casualty or close to death situation due to an anesthesia mistake, then you have a right to file a case. ReShea Balams is a trusted attorney in the Georgia state who will take this case and help you make the person at fault take responsibility.
Meet ReShea Balams at The Balams Firm today by calling (404) 445-2005. She specializes in cases like yours and has experience dealing with defendants in the medical field. The Balams Firm serves all across the Georgia region including the counties of Fulton County, Dekalb County, Gwinnett County, Clayton County, and Cobb County.
Overview of Anesthesia Errors in Georgia
- Am I Victim of an Anesthesia Error?
- Short- and Long-Term Effects of an Anesthesia Error
- Georgia Law of Limitations in Medical Malpractice
- Additional Resources
Am I Victim of an Anesthesia Error?
The steps taken before administering anesthesia are very specific. The anesthesiologist will likely meet with you and ask you a little about your family history, including if anyone in your family has had problems with anesthesia in the past. Then they will move on to asking you specific reactions of anesthesia present in your history such as an allergic reaction or upset stomach.
Typically, you would have previous dietary instructions and restrictions given before the procedure. A patient suffering from lung problems before entering the procedure requiring anesthesia might also need extra oxygen in case their oxygen level goes down too low. The anesthesiologist should determine all of those things before administering the anesthesia.
There are two common types of anesthesia used depending on your procedure; General and local anesthesia. The two differ because general anesthesia involves putting your whole body to sleep, while local anesthesia only puts one part of your body to sleep. Usually, local anesthesia only numbs the area in which the procedure will be performed.
Some of the most common errors that can occur during the anesthesia administration include administering the wrong dose of anesthesia through the IV line. If you were administered the wrong or an unnecessary dose of anesthesia, then you can suffer severe problems because of it. An anesthesiologist could also administer too little anesthesia that could affect your nerve sensation during the procedure.
Similarly, kids will need a lesser dose of medication than adults and need cautious observation for their care. Kids are especially sensitive to an anesthesia, because they require different levels than adults. A kid’s brain has also not fully developed until after the age of 5, so having any type of sedation young can affect their development in the future.
Short- and Long-Term Effects of an Anesthesia Error
Some people’s history affects them more than others. Patients who are at high risk for a bad anesthesia outcome include:
- History of anesthesia reaction
- Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- Kidney issues
- Any lung condition including asthma
- Obesity
- Sleep apnea
- Stroke
- Epilepsy
The effects of anesthesiologist error can be long and devastating. After anesthesia most doctors advise you of the restrictions following your anesthesia procedure. These can include no driving for 24 hours, no alcohol for 24 hours, and avoid making legal decisions for 24 hours. Some common side effects after anesthesia involve nausea, chills, rash, dizziness, and confusion. More serious and long-term effects involve:
- Memory and learning problems
- Malignant Hyperthermia
- Prolonged breathing problems
- Death
If a death or a serious physical harm was caused by an anesthesia error, then it is worth seeking legal counsel to address the mistake made during the procedure.
Georgia Law of Limitations in Medical Malpractice
Chapter 9-3-70 of Georgia’s statute of limitations mentions someone can file a medical malpractice action according to the law. First of all, a certified healthcare facility or provider had to perform the service. The damages from the malpractice should also include death or injury to the person. The statute also details a time-sensitive process for filing.
Chapter 9-3-71 mentions a medical malpractice case can only appear before the law if its consequence happened at most two years previous to filing. Coincidently, the court won’t accept cases whose original malpractice event is older than five years.
Additional Resources
John Hopkins Medicine Anesthesia Information — John Hopkins Medicine provides different resources to learn more about the anesthesia process including types of anesthesia and the anesthesia process. You can find more about what anesthesia was administer to you for your specific procedure. You also need to go use the questionnaire found in the page and compare it to the questions asked by your anesthesiologist.
Anesthesiology Publication Page — This page provides a research study conducted by a publication specific to anesthesia information. The study poses the question of size as a factor for anesthesia administration. You can learn more information about the different results as a part of the study.
Attorney for Anesthesia Mistakes in Atlanta, GA
There are emotional and physical damages involving an anesthesia mistake. If you are a victim of a medical malpractice in which the anesthesiologist made an anesthesia mistake you don’t have to face the consequences alone. Make your anesthesiologist pay for their actions.
ReShea Balams is empathetic to your situation and will analyze your case step by step. The Balams Firm can file a case on your behalf. All you have to do is get a free consultation with them first. Call ReShea Balams at (404) 445-2005. The Balams Firm serves all across the Georgia region including the counties of Fulton County, Dekalb County, Gwinnett County, Clayton County, and Cobb County.
