Have you or someone you love been injured because of an anesthesia error? Contact the San Diego personal injury attorneys at Injury Trial Lawyers, APC for help. Anesthesia is supposed to prevent you from feeling pain, not make your life more complicated.
If a medical professional’s negligence contributed to your injury we will help you demand the compensation you deserve. Call our office today to schedule your free case assessment. We’ll explain your options and answer any questions you have.
Use and Risk of Anesthesia
Anesthesia has been used for more than 175 years to block a patient’s pain or discomfort when they undergo an invasive medical procedure. There are actually three different types of anesthesia: local, regional, and general. Local and regional anesthetics simply numb a small part of the body while you remain awake. General anesthetics, which are responsible for most anesthesia error injuries, render you unconscious, block pain throughout the body, and leave you with no memory of the procedure.
General anesthesia is typically safe when it is used properly. In order to ensure that patients are safe when they “go under,” anesthesia must be administered and monitored by a specially trained medical professional. This specialist is known as either an anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist. This person’s job involves assessing the risk of anesthesia in a particular patient, administering the agent correctly, and monitoring the patient’s vitals during a medical procedure.
Unfortunately, approximately 300 people die and thousands more are injured because of anesthesia-related complications every year. Many of these injuries and deaths are the result of medical negligence and anesthesia errors.
Causes of Anesthesia Injuries in San Diego
When administered and monitored by a skilled professional, anesthesia is generally considered to be safe. Injuries typically occur when anesthesiologists are negligent in the administration and monitoring of the anesthetic agents. Since anesthesiologists are medical professionals, they are held to a higher standard of care than most. In order to provide the very best level of care and minimize risks to patients, anesthesiologists must “use the level of skill, knowledge, and care in diagnosis and treatment that other [anesthesiologists] would use in the same or similar circumstances.” If an anesthesiologist fails to satisfy this standard of care, they can be considered negligent.
Commonly reported causes of anesthesia injuries include:
- Not administering enough anesthesia
- Administering too much anesthesia
- Failing to monitor a patient’s oxygen levels
- Failing to monitor a patient’s heart function and breathing
- Failing to identify changes in blood pressure, and
- Failing to identify interactions with the patient’s other medications.
These causes would likely be considered medical negligence. Why? Barring any unforeseen complications, these are all things that a skilled anesthesiologist should be able to do in the normal course of their job.
Types of Anesthesia Error Injuries
Anesthesia can affect the body in many ways. Some injuries are relatively minor and will not have longlasting effects. Other injuries will be much more severe and may even result in a permanent disability or death. Statistics show that damage to the teeth is the most frequently reported anesthesia-related injury, affecting nearly 21 percent of victims. Nerve damage, organ damage, and cardiopulmonary arrest are also reported frequently by victims of anesthesia injuries.
Other common anesthesia injuries include:
- Brain injury
- Spine injury
- Paralysis
- Broken bones
- Heart attack
- Coma
- Stroke
- Internal bleeding
- Birth injury
- Asphyxia, and
- Wrongful death.
Always seek medical attention immediately if you begin to experience adverse effects after getting anesthesia. Prompt care can prevent undiagnosed complications from getting worse.
Liability for Anesthesia Injuries in San Diego
Anesthesia injuries generally happen when a medical professional is negligent. However, there can be many factors that contribute to an anesthesia injury. In California, anyone who contributes to your injury can be held financially responsible. Potential defendants in an anesthesia injury lawsuit could include:
- Anesthesiologists
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Hospital staff
- Hospital administration
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Medical equipment manufacturers, or
- Medical device companies.
It’s important to determine the specific cause(s) of your anesthesia injury. Identifying the cause will help to pinpoint which parties may be named as defendants in your personal injury lawsuit.
Damages Available to Anesthesia Injury Victims
The costs of your anesthesia injury should never be underestimated. Medical bills can add up quickly. If your injury is severe, you may be faced with a disability that disrupts your life and ability to work. Without a job, it can be difficult to make ends meet. This can simply add to the emotional trauma you’re experiencing. When someone else is to blame for your injury, you have the right to hold them financially responsible.
At Injury Trial Lawyers, APC, our San Deigo anesthesia injury attorney will aggressively pursue damages on your behalf. We will fight to recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing care
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Disability (temporary and/or permanent)
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Chronic pain
- Emotional suffering and distress
- Disfigurement
- Embarrassment, and more.
Call our compassionate legal team today to schedule a free consultation. We’ll review your case and answer the questions you have.
Statute of Limitations for Anesthesia Injury Cases in San Diego
If you’ve been injured because of another person in San Diego you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, it’s important to act quickly. The state imposes a strict statute of limitations. This means that you can be prevented from getting the money you deserve if your case isn’t filed on time.
Civil lawsuits based on medical negligence must typically be filed no later than one year after the date you suffered the injury. The state does understand that may be times when a victim doesn’t recognize an injury right away. If this happens, you will have one year from the date you discover your injury to file your claim.
Missing the deadline to file your claim can be devastating. Calling an San Diego anesthesia injury attorney as soon as you identify your anesthesia injury can prevent you from missing out on the compensation you deserve. Contact Injury Trial Lawyers, APC for help today.
Why You Should Hire an San Diego Anesthesia Injury attorney
Any medical malpractice lawsuit will be challenging. Things can become even more complicated when your injury is caused by an anesthesia error. Doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies will fight you every step of the way. They’ll make it incredibly difficult to prove that an error on their part is responsible for your injury. However, you don’t have to fight a personal injury lawsuit on your own. The defendants will be represented by highly-skilled attorneys, and so should you.
At Injury Trial Lawyers, APC, our attorneys understand that your injury may be devastating for you and your family. We also know that a successful personal injury lawsuit can help you to recover much-needed compensation during this difficult time. We employ an aggressive strategy that is designed to maximize the financial award you receive.
Here’s what you can expect from our experienced legal team:
- Protection from manipulative insurance companies.
- A thorough investigation into the cause and circumstances of your injury.
- A careful review of all evidence, including medical reports and witness statements.
- Consultations with expert witnesses familiar with anesthesia protocol, negligence, and injuries.
- Analysis of your damages, including actual costs today and projected future costs.
We’ll craft a strong case and approach the defendants with evidence to support our demand for compensation. If you’re unsatisfied with the offers you receive, we won’t hesitate to take your case to court.
San Diego Anesthesia Injury Lawyers
You trust doctors and medical professionals when you undergo a surgical procedure. When that trust is violated and you suffer an injury, you have the right to demand compensation. The money you receive won’t guarantee a full recovery, but it can help you cope with physical, emotional, and financial injuries that you’ve experienced. At Injury Trial Lawyers, APC, we are prepared to help you maximize the amount of money you receive. Call our San Diego anesthesia injury attorney to schedule your free consultation today.