Anesthesia Errors and Medical Malpractice
March 2025
Anesthesia errors are serious medical mistakes that can lead to catastrophic outcomes. These errors often result from professional negligence and may constitute medical malpractice if they breach the accepted standard of care.
A common anesthesia error is incorrect dosing. The overdosing of anesthesia can lead to respiratory failure or cardiac arrest. The underdosing of anesthesia can result in patient awareness during surgery. Another anesthesia error is the failure to montior vital signs during a medical procedure. The failure to monitor vital signs like oxygen levels and heart rate can lead to hypoxia and cardiac complications. Another error which can occur is improper intubation. The failure to properly intubate a patient can cause airway injuries or blockages. In addition, equipment failures in the delivery of anesthesia can result in severe harm.
A patient should expect that an anesthesiologist conduct a through preoperative assessment and obtain infomed consent. Additionally, an anesthesiologist should monitor patients during procedures and respond promptly to complications.
If you suspect that you or a loved one have been injured due to an anesthesia error, take the time to confer with experienced trial counsel. At Herrick & Hart, we have been on the side of the injured for over 70 years.