Undergoing a surgical procedure that requires anesthesia can be stressful. Anesthetics have powerful effects on the body, so there is an inherent risk of something going wrong. That is especially the case if you don’t get the appropriate medical care while receiving anesthesia.
If you have sustained an anesthesia injury because of medical malpractice in Georgia, you may be entitled to start a claim. It’s important to first understand the most common types of anesthesia injuries and what causes them.
Common Types of Anesthesia Injuries in Georgia
Anesthesia injuries can range from minor to catastrophic incidents that put your life at risk. Here’s a closer look at some of the most common ones in Georgia:
Airway and Dental Damage
If you need to have a breathing tube placed during the procedure, care must be taken to avoid damaging your teeth. Chipped enamel, broken teeth, and even vocal cord trauma are all common injuries that can be prevented.
Eye Injuries
During long surgeries, your blood pressure needs to be monitored. Reduced blood flow or pressure to your eyes, along with the loss of normal reflexes that could prevent the eyelid from closing completely, can result in corneal abrasions and, in the most severe cases, vision loss.
Nerve Damage
If you receive regional anesthesia but the person administering it is negligent, the needle could damage nerves in the area. The same can occur if you are not positioned correctly during a surgery involving general anesthesia. The pressure against a nerve could be enough to leave you with chronic pain, numbness, or tingling.
Medication Reactions
It’s possible to suffer allergic reactions to the anesthetic. The entire care team must be ready to act if they notice any signs that your body is reacting badly to the drugs. Some people also experience malignant hyperthermia, which is a life-threatening spike in body temperature.
Brain Injuries
If your brain is deprived of oxygen while you’re under anesthesia, you could sustain a brain injury. Cognitive issues can result, and some people might experience permanent brain damage.
What Causes Anesthesia Injuries?
Anesthesia injuries can sometimes be impossible to prevent, but much of the time, medical malpractice is to blame.
Dosage mistakes are particularly common. If the provider doesn’t double-check medical charts, you may receive higher or lower doses of the medication than is appropriate. Higher doses can put you at risk of respiratory failure, while lower doses can cause anesthesia awareness.
Monitoring failures are another potential cause of anesthesia injuries. While you are under sedation, all of your vitals must be carefully and regularly checked. If there are any deviations from the norm, the team has to address them immediately. Drops in blood pressure or oxygen levels are typically medical emergencies.
Improper patient positioning can be catastrophic during long surgeries. Pressure in the area could become unbearable, leading to reduced blood flow and potential tissue death.
Equipment failures could also be to blame. If a piece of equipment malfunctioned and the provider monitoring you did not notice the problem, you may be able to file a product liability claim along with a medical malpractice claim.
Pursuing a Medical Malpractice Claim After an Anesthesia Injury
If you or a loved one has suffered an anesthesia injury because of medical negligence, filing a medical malpractice claim could help you recover your losses. These legal processes require establishing that another comparable healthcare provider would not have made the same error that caused your injuries.
You can expect pushback from the provider and the facility where they work. They may try to state that it was impossible to prevent your injury. To prove otherwise, your legal team may need to hire expert witnesses, including other medical professionals, who can present evidence that shows the error could have been avoided. A lawyer with experience handling anesthesia injury cases can help you do so.
In a medical malpractice claim, you can pursue compensation to address your medical expenses related to the injury, as well as any future care you will need. If you sustained nerve damage, for example, that prevents you from walking correctly, you may need ongoing physical therapy to improve. A settlement should cover these costs.
You can seek compensation for lost wages, too, if you were not able to work. Damages may also cover your emotional suffering and your loss of enjoyment of life.
Contact a Columbus Medical Malpractice Lawyer at Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm for a Free Consultation
After suffering an anesthesia injury, you may be entitled to receive compensation via a personal injury claim. While a claim can’t undo the harm you’ve suffered, it can help you regain some control over your life and ensure that the responsible people are held accountable.
At Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm, our skilled team has over 25 years of experience protecting the rights of the injured. Our Columbus medical malpractice lawyers can serve as your trusted advocate and provide the support you need to navigate the aftermath of an anesthesia injury. Schedule a free consultation with us or call at (706) 940-4030 to learn more today.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Columbus, GA
Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm
233 12th St #808, Columbus, GA 31901
(706) 940-4030
