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Anesthesia Errors: Preventable, Potentially Deadly

malpractice attorney seattle

When patients undergo surgery, they receive medicine to induce anesthesia to keep them from feeling pain or discomfort. Anesthesiologists are doctors who are trained in how to administer and manage anesthesia medications. Nurse Anesthetists are also providers with advanced training in anesthesia management. As in any healthcare procedure, however, medical errors can occur.

Outpatient Magazine recently described a Connecticut case in which a patient died after an anesthesiologist administered the wrong medication.

The patient was supposed to receive Hespan for a drop in blood pressure during a discectomy, but the anesthesiologist administered a fatal dose lidocaine instead. The medication had not been placed correctly on the cart, contributing to the error.

Anesthesia administration is a critical stage on any surgical procedure. Errors can creep in during any phase of the process, even before the anesthesia is administered to the patient.

As in the Connecticut case, an anesthesia mistake can occur due to the use of the wrong drug to induce anesthesia or sedation. Often, these errors result from mislabeling of the drug or mistakes by the anesthesiologist or nurse who prepares the syringe.

Significant anesthesia errors may result in brain damage, spinal cord injury, organ failure, or heart attack.

Accurate labeling of anesthesia drugs before they are administered to the patient can help prevent many anesthesia errors. Syringes and the drugs they contain should be labeled correctly, and the anesthesiologist must recheck the labeling just before administration.

The attorneys at Morrow Kidman Tinker Macey-Cushman, PLLC have represented clients in anesthesia error cases, including injuries resulting from distracted anesthesia providers, errors in administering the right medication, and improper monitoring of patient status during and after surgery. Reviewing these cases requires knowledge of the specialized world of anesthesia. If you have questions about care you or a loved one received, contact us for a free consultation.