Anesthesia Malpractice Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA

Anesthesia errors today are rare, but they are not unheard of. If you’ve been the victim of this kind of medical malpractice, speak with a Pittsburgh anesthesia malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. Anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists play a vital role in surgical procedures, and when they make mistakes, a patient may suffer a brain injury, respiratory distress, or die as a consequence. The primary role of an anesthesia professional is to prevent a patient from feeling pain during procedures. For some individuals, this means rendering them partially or fully unconscious and insensitive to pain. An anesthesiologist’s job is not over when he or she administers the initial drug, however. The anesthesiologist must also monitor a patient’s vital signs, including oxygen levels, to ensure the application of anesthesia is appropriate. When anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists fail to use the appropriate standard of care during the course of administering anesthesia or monitoring the patient’s vital signs afterward and a patient suffers debilitating or deadly consequences as a result, the mistake is considered medical negligence.

A skilled Pittsburgh medical malpractice lawyer can help investigate your situation and hold the responsible parties accountable for the harm they caused. To seek compensation for your anesthesia error injuries, contact Matzus Law, LLC today.

For answers to frequently asked questions about anesthesia errors and other types of medical malpractice in Pennsylvania, see the Matzus Law, LLC medical malpractice FAQ page.

The Unique Practice of Anesthesiology

Anesthesiology is a highly specialized field that helps people who go into the dentist’s office for a toothache as well as those who must have highly invasive surgeries at the hospital or surgery centers. The practice involves the careful application of drugs formulated with a person’s medical history, current medication regimen, and other factors in mind. It typically involves the application of three separate drugs: a sedative, a paralytic, and a painkiller. When administered properly, these three prevent patients from experiencing any of the effects of surgery.

Types of Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia errors that may constitute a malpractice case include failure to:

• Administer the right dose of anesthesia drugs
• Administer the anesthesia drugs in a timely manner
• Use the right anesthesia drugs for the individual based on medical history and current medications
• Supply appropriate intubation for oxygen supplementation
• Supply the right amount of oxygen to the patient in a timely manner
• Carefully monitor and respond to a patient’s vital signs
• Act immediately if a patient stops breathing

You may have heard horror stories in the media about patients who wake up during a procedure, paralyzed but aware of their surroundings, or patients who never wake up because anesthesia was improperly administered. Brain damage due to hypoxia is another reason for anesthesia error lawsuits. Some anesthesia errors regarding oxygen supply may not be fatal but will cause serious and permanent brain damage. In addition to brain damage, anesthesia errors can cause heart problems, birth defects, seizures, spinal cord injury, and coma.

Retain an Anesthesia Errors Attorney in Pennsylvania

In the state of Pennsylvania, every case has to be evaluated and supported by a practicing physician in the same specialty. This means medical malpractice cases, including those involving anesthesia errors, are as technical as they are complex. At Matzus Law, LLC, we have the expertise needed to address highly complex cases and we work with world-class medical experts to identify negligence in anesthesia error cases. Our team in Pittsburgh, PA is ready to help you hold the anesthesia professionals who caused a preventable injury accountable. Contact a Pittsburgh anesthesia malpractice lawyer today for a free case evaluation, and we can help you get started on a successful claim as soon as possible.