What Should I Do If My Loved One’s Death Was Caused by an Anesthesia Mistake?

 Posted on February 18, 2021 in Medical Malpractice

While most surgical procedures are completed successfully, patient death during surgery is not unheard of. There is always a small chance that a patient will not survive a surgical procedure. Problems with anesthesia, the medication used to “put a patient under,” is one reason that some patients die on the operating table. It is estimated that about 1-4 of every 10,000 surgeries involving anesthesia results in the patient’s death. Sometimes, an anesthesia-related death is unavoidable. Other times, the patient’s death is caused by the negligent actions of an anesthesiologist, nurse anesthetist, or other medical professional.

Types of Anesthesia Errors That Could Lead to a Patient’s Death

If your loved one passed away during a surgical procedure, you are probably desperate for answers. You may be unsure if your loved one’s death was caused by a medical mistake. Anesthesia errors that may result in patient injury or death include:

• Inaccurate dosage of anesthesia medication
• Mistakes made during patient intubation
• Administration of the wrong type of anesthesia medication
• Administration of a medication that the patient is allergic to
• Failure to recognize adverse drug interactions
• Insufficient monitoring of the patient during the surgical procedure
• Use of defective medication or defective medical equipment
• Poor equipment maintenance
• Use of improper anesthesia or surgical techniques

A Medical Malpractice Attorney Can Investigate the Cause of Your Loved One’s Death

Since a patient’s family is not in the operating room during a surgical procedure, it can be nearly impossible to know what happened during your loved one’s surgery. A medical malpractice lawyer with experience handling cases involving anesthesiologist errors may be able to determine if negligent medical care led to your loved one’s death. Medical malpractice lawyers typically work with medical experts and other specialists to understand if an anesthesiologist’s actions failed to meet the accepted medical standard of care.

 If medical negligence is to blame for your loved one’s death, you may be able to hold the liable party accountable through a wrongful death claim. You may also be able to recover compensation for the loss of your loved one’s income, medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, and other damages.  

Contact a Rolling Meadows Anesthesia Malpractice Lawyer

If your loved one died during surgery, it is possible that negligent medical care is to blame. An experienced Schaumburg medical malpractice lawyer from Newland & Newland, LLP can investigate your loved one’s death and help you explore your legal options. Call 847-797-8000 for a free consultation.

Sources:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7483110/