It is common for anesthesiologists to administer various anesthetics to 500,000 patients over the course of their careers. Each time a patient receives anesthesia is an opportunity for a mistake to occur, and when anesthesia errors do happen, they often have severe or fatal consequences.
If you are facing a medical malpractice lawsuit over an alleged anesthesia error, turn to Lubell Rosen. Our lawyers have the experience, resources, and proven legal strategies to defend your interests during every stage of the proceedings. Call (954) 880-9500 to schedule a consultation with a medical malpractice defense attorney in Florida.
Common Causes of Anesthesia Errors
There are several reasons why anesthesia errors occur. Some of the most common causes include:
- Inaccurate or outdated information in the patient’s records;
- Improperly labeled anesthetic products;
- Incorrect intubation; and
- Defective equipment.
Because there are many causes of anesthesia errors, there are numerous parties who may be liable including:
- Members of the surgical team;
- Administrative staff;
- The anesthesiologist;
- Pharmacists or medication manufacturers; and
- Equipment manufacturers.
How Can Anesthesiologists Avoid Mistakes When Administering Anesthesia?
The single most effective way to reduce the risk of making an anesthesia error is to remain alert and attentive at every stage of a procedure. Additionally, the entire surgical team can minimize the chance of preventable complications by implementing systems that establish redundancy, such as crosschecking all the patient’s documents.
How Can Providers Fight Malpractice Claims Alleging an Anesthesia Error?
The most effective legal strategies to defend against anesthesia-related medical malpractice claims vary from case to case. The first step is to determine why the complication occurred. For example, if an anesthesia error happened because a medical device malfunctioned during the procedure, the patient would actually have a claim against the equipment manufacturer—not against the surgeons who used it.
