Maryland Anesthesia Error and Malpractice Attorney
The administration of anesthesia is often a needed part of a surgery. If a doctor failed to administer anesthesia properly, it could have serious health implications for a patient. As a result, a doctor could be held liable for medical malpractice for their negligence. If you or a family member was injured due to an anesthesia error, you should consult with an experienced Maryland anesthesia error and malpractice attorney as soon as possible.
Rice, Murtha & Psoras is here to offer you the legal representation you need to begin your medical malpractice case against the negligent doctor that caused your injuries. Our firm has worked on a wide variety of medical malpractice claims, and we are dedicated to helping you work through your injury case. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your malpractice claim, contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291. You can also schedule your consultation online.
Common Anesthesia Errors Leading to Maryland Malpractice Claims
Anesthesia is a drug that is used to subdue a patient or to numb a certain area of a patient’s body in order to perform surgery. An anesthesiologist is required to ensure that anesthesia is properly administered to a patient during an operation. They are also required to monitor the patient so that they can quickly respond to any issues the patient may experience.
If an anesthesiologist and other hospital staff fail to act responsibly when using anesthesia, they could be held liable for a patient’s injuries. the following is a list of common anesthesia errors that can lead to a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Improper Intubation
If a doctor must use anesthesia to subdue a patient temporarily, they may also have to intubate the patient in order to avoid the possibility of the patient experiencing a loss of oxygen during the procedure. Intubation is when an anesthesiologist places a tube in the patient’s trachea in order to ensure that a patient’s airways are not impeded. However, if an anesthesiologist does not correctly set the tube in the patient’s trachea or removes the tube early, the patient could lose oxygen to the brain, causing likely irreparable damage.
Failure to Monitor Patient
When consenting to the use of anesthesia, it is important to know that there are many risks associated with the use of the drug. In extreme cases, a patient could die if an anesthesiologist mishandles anesthesia. To prevent the possibility of a severe injury, an anesthesiologist should ensure that they monitor a patient’s vitals during the procedure.
If an anesthesiologist fails to properly monitor a patient’s vitals, and the patient is injured, the anesthesiologist could be held liable for malpractice.
Additionally, when using anesthesia for a surgical procedure, it is possible that a patient may vomit while they are unconscious. the surgical team must ensure that a patient does not inhale that vomit into their lungs, or it could cause the patient to suffocate and reduce oxygen to the brain.
Insufficient Post-Operative Care
A doctor’s role is not complete once a surgery is over. Patients often need to be monitored after the surgery to ensure that no complications arise after the procedure. This is especially true for individuals that sleep longer than usual because they were given too much anesthesia. Under these circumstances, a doctor should ensure that a patient’s vitals are holding up while they are unconscious.
This is not an exhaustive list of anesthesia errors that can affect a patient. For example, a patient could experience numbness or paralysis in certain areas of the body if anesthesia is not administered correctly. If you suffered an injury due to an anesthesia error, you should waste no time in seeking the compensation you deserve for your injuries. To learn more about when to file an anesthesia error lawsuit, continue reading and speak with an experienced Maryland medical malpractice lawyer.
Filing Deadline for Anesthesia Error and Malpractice Lawsuits in Maryland
A potential plaintiff in an anesthesia error malpractice lawsuit should be aware that their case is subject to the statute of limitations. the statute of limitations is a law that regulates the amount of time that a potential plaintiff has to file a civil suit in a court of law.
Each state has a different statute of limitations depending on the type of case a victim wishes to file. That is why it is important to avoid making assumptions about the filing deadline for a case. If a potential plaintiff is wrong about the filing deadline, they could be barred from filing their lawsuit entirely.
In Maryland, the statute of limitations for a medical malpractice lawsuit is five years from the date of the injury. However, if the injury were not discovered until long after the anesthesia error occurred, the plaintiff would only have three years to file their case with a court of law.
Contact Our Experienced Maryland Anesthesia Error and Malpractice Lawyer Today
If you or a family member was severely injured due to a malpractice error, you should contact an experienced Maryland anesthesia error and malpractice lawyer. Rice, Murtha & Psoras is committed to working with you to help you fight for the compensation you deserve after a serious medical error. To schedule a free legal consultation to speak about your potential case, contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291. You can also contact our firm online.