Martinsburg Anesthesia Malpractice Lawyer in West Virginia

Even simple surgeries are a major event for the person undergoing the procedure. Most surgical teams are attentive and well-versed in their craft, but there are still countless opportunities during any surgical procedure for things to go wrong if attention lapses. Anesthesiologists play a critical role on a surgical team. They are responsible not only for preparing a patient for surgery by administering drugs that will prevent the patient from experiencing pain, but also for monitoring the patient throughout the procedure. Should the anesthesiologist make a mistake in calculating the correct dose of drugs for the patient or fail to notice that a patient’s vital signs indicate that they’re in distress, the patient could suffer emotional trauma, brain damage, or, in rare cases, death. Find out if you should pursue a claim for compensation after a West Virginia anesthesia error by contacting an anesthesia malpractice lawyer at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson for an evaluation of your case.

Components of anesthesia and common errors

Anesthesia can be administered locally, regionally, or generally. Local and regional anesthesia target only the operation site and surrounding area, while general anesthesia makes the patient unconscious for the entire procedure. The majority of anesthesia errors occur during general anesthesia.

The drugs issued to patients to induce general anesthesia have three main roles: hypnosis (making the patient unaware of what’s happening), relaxation (loosening the muscles so that a breathing tube can be put in place and surgeons can access the operation site), and pain relief. Patients can suffer injuries if any of these components are improperly administered. If the patient receives too little of the hypnosis-inducing drug, for example, they may become conscious during surgery but unable to move or speak. If the patient receives too much of the relaxation-inducing drug, their bodily functions may slow down excessively. Victims of anesthesia errors can suffer such injuries as:

• Post-traumatic stress from becoming conscious during surgery
• Brain damage from loss of oxygen
• Seizures
• Airway injuries from intubation mistakes
• Nerve damage
• Wrongful death

Get a lawyer’s opinion on whether you’re owed money for an anesthesia error

Anesthesia errors can require victims to obtain costly medical care, rehabilitation and even therapy to overcome the trauma of the experience. If you or someone you love has been injured by an anesthesia error, you may be entitled to money damages for these injuries. Contact medical malpractice lawyers at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson for a free consultation on your case.

Help is Available after Serious Anesthesia Errors and Other Medical Mistakes

For a no-cost evaluation of your anesthesia error claim in Maryland and West Virginia, contact the professional, seasoned, and effective Martinsburg medical malpractice lawyers at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson at 304-263-0900 or (304) LAWYERS.