Anesthesia may be a marvel of modern medicine, but it is not without a certain level of risk. These risks are extremely heightened when anesthesiologists and physicians do not use the correct standards of care. Anesthesia errors can occur when an anesthesiologist negligently performs his or her job. This is a form of medical malpractice that can give an injured patient the right to file a civil claim in San Antonio. No patient should have to suffer in silence after medical malpractice.

If you are dealing with an anesthesia injury in San Antonio, contact the medical malpractice attorneys at the Law Offices of Maloney & Campolo for a no-cost, no-pressure consultation about your legal options. You may be entitled to financial compensation from a health care provider for medical malpractice in association with your anesthesia injury.

Why Choose Us For Your Anesthesia Injury Case?

  • We have more than 75 years of experience handling medical malpractice claims in Texas.
  • We are proud to have a proven record of positive case results. We successfully secure compensation in 95% of our cases and have obtained more than $150 million for our clients.
  • We encourage you to contact our firm 24/7. We want to answer any questions or concerns you may have, day or night. You will always communicate with your San Antonio personal injury attorney, not a paralegal or associate.
  • We want to ensure legal services are available to every medical malpractice victim. We represent clients on a contingency fee agreement, meaning you will only have to pay if we win. We never charge any fees upfront.
  • Our clients always come first. We practice client-focused personal injury law. See our testimonials. 

Do You Need an Anesthesia Error Attorney?

Going up against the individual or hospital that contributed to you or a loved one’s injuries can be difficult without help from a San Antonio anesthesia error lawyer. The medical practitioner’s insurance company may try to convince you to agree to a lowball settlement offer. Working with a San Antonio medical malpractice lawyer can ensure you do not accept less than your claim is worth. It can also allow you to focus on other things while your attorney takes care of complicated legal processes. A medical malpractice lawyer can optimize your odds of securing fair compensation for damages.

What Is an Anesthesia Injury?

An anesthesia injury describes harm to a patient while under the effects of anesthesia. There are multiple types of anesthesia, but the kind that is most often involved in medical malpractice lawsuits is general anesthesia.

The incorrect administration of anesthesia to a patient can result in many serious injuries, such as:

  • Adverse drug interactions or allergic reactions
  • Anesthesia awareness, when a patient wakes up during surgery but is unable to communicate or move (underdose)
  • Related post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Systemic toxicity from too much anesthesia (overdose)
  • Spinal injuries or nerve damage from epidural mistakes
  • Pregnancy and childbirth complications
  • Intubation errors and larynx and trachea injuries
  • A lack of oxygen reaching the brain (hypoxic brain injuries)
  • Brain damage, coma or vegetative state

In the most severe cases, anesthesia errors can cause patient deaths. Serious and fatal anesthesia injuries are typically preventable and stem from medical negligence.

Types of Anesthesia Errors

An anesthesia error can refer to any mistake or misjudgment an anesthesiologist makes during the performance of his or her job duties. It is an anesthesiologist’s responsibility to take adequate care of a patient during surgical procedures, operations, or other treatments according to the standards of the industry. Any action or omission that falls outside of these standards, resulting in patient injury, is medical malpractice. Anesthesia errors can occur in many different ways.

  • Failure to review the patient’s medical history or allergies
  • Improper patient intubation
  • Incorrect mix of anesthesia drugs
  • Too much or not enough anesthesia
  • Failure to monitor the patient during surgery
  • Failure to notice signs of an emergency
  • Lack of informed patient consent

Any of these mistakes could lead to significant or permanent personal injuries for the patient. If a reasonable and prudent anesthesiologist would not have committed the same acts under the same circumstances, the anesthesiologist may be guilty of malpractice. It is the victim’s burden of proof to show that the anesthesiologist is responsible for the damages in question, through a collection of evidence, information, and documentation supporting the claim. A San Antonio anesthesia error attorney can help with this burden of proof.

When Do Anesthesia Injuries Lead to Medical Malpractice Claims?

Medical malpractice means that a health care provider falls short of the accepted standard of care upheld within the medical industry. Anesthesiologists, physicians, surgeons and nurses must all fulfill their duty of care when anesthetizing a patient. Any action or failure to act that does not meet this requirement can constitute medical malpractice if it leads to patient harm.

Examples of medical negligence behind anesthesia injuries include:

  • Failing to check the patient’s medical history and current prescriptions
  • Skipping important patient instructions, such as to avoid food and drink beforehand
  • Mixing the wrong anesthesia based on the patient’s age, weight or other factors
  • Administering too little or too much anesthesia
  • Failing to monitor the patient’s vital signs during the procedure
  • Failing to take proper emergency action when faced with signs of distress

A San Antonio patient who suffers an anesthesia injury may be eligible for financial compensation for related medical costs, pain and suffering, long-term or short-term disability, lost wages, and more. An attorney can make it easier to prove the required elements of this type of medical malpractice claim.

Common Injuries from Anesthesia Errors

Professional negligence can lead to severe, catastrophic, and permanent personal injuries to the patient. Any mistake related to anesthesia could be grounds for the patient to file a civil lawsuit, if the patient suffers injuries as a result.

  • Anesthesia awareness
  • Nerve injury
  • Lack of oxygen to the brain
  • Permanent brain damage
  • Stroke or heart attack
  • Respiratory problems
  • Pneumonia
  • Severe allergic reactions
  • Mental confusion
  • Coma
  • Wrongful death

Signs of anesthesia errors and medical malpractice could serve as proof during your civil lawsuit. You and your family could be eligible to recover the costs of your related medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages. If you lost a loved one a San Antonio wrongful death attorney can also help you recover compensation for your loss.

Contact a San Antonio Anesthesia Error Lawyer Today for a Free Consultation

Putting a patient under anesthesia is not an exact science. Unknown factors and risks exist every time a patient agrees to anesthetization. However, a patient does not accept the risk of the anesthesiologist being negligent. Before you take on the legal burden of your claim, consult with an attorney at the Law Offices of Maloney & Campolo to find out how we can help.

Our experienced, skilled and qualified attorneys can make a world of difference to your anesthesia injury case. 

Our attorneys offer free, comprehensive case reviews, where we will listen to your anesthesia injury story and give you tailored legal advice. Contact us online or call (210) 404-7423 anytime to schedule your meeting.