Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Anesthesiologists play a vital role in keeping patients safe during surgical procedures. If you or a loved one has suffered harm due to an anesthesia error, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our skilled Syracuse anesthesia malpractice attorneys understand the serious consequences that can result from such errors, which is why are committed to providing aggressive yet compassionate representation at every step of the way. You can rest assured that we are here to answer your questions and address your concerns.
Whether it is a local anesthetic or a general anesthetic that puts you to sleep, the goal of anesthesia is the same: to reduce or prevent pain and allow physicians to work. While the use of anesthesia is normally safe, mistakes involving anesthesia can lead to serious injuries and even death. Anesthesia errors affect many people in New York and throughout the United States each year. In fact, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations states that 21,000 to 42,000 Americans experience anesthesia awareness each year – a condition in which the intended state of complete unconsciousness is not maintained throughout the whole surgical procedure. In other words, the patient can recall the surroundings or an event related to the surgery while under general anesthesia. Other examples of anesthesia errors include:
- Dosage error (too much or too little);
- Delayed anesthesia delivery;
- Failure to intubate or injuries caused during the intubation process;
- Failure to monitor a patient properly;
- Failure to recognize complications;
- Improper use of equipment during surgery; or
- Turning off the alarm on the pulse oximeter.
Anesthesia errors are a form of medical malpractice when they take place due to a medical professional’s negligence or preventable mistake. In New York, medical malpractice takes place when an anesthesiologist fails to use the level of care and caution that a reasonably prudent anesthesiologist would have used in the same situation. It is not enough to show that an anesthesiologist deviated from the level of care. Instead, the injured plaintiff must also establish that the anesthesiologist’s deviation was the direct cause of his or her harm.
Like any other type of claim, a medical malpractice claim must be filed within a certain time limit, known as the statute of limitations. Generally, an injured patient in New York has two years and six months from the alleged malpractice to file a lawsuit in civil court. Failing to file within this time frame could mean losing your right to compensation altogether.
Many of us will undergo some form of anesthesia at some point in our lives. If you or a loved one has suffered harm due to the negligent administration of anesthesia, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim against the at-fault party. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our seasoned Syracuse anesthesia error attorneys have years of experience resolving malpractice claims and can apply our knowledge to your case. For a free initial consultation, do not hesitate to call us at 833-200-2000 or contact us online.
More Blog Posts:
Damages in New York Medical Malpractice Cases, Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, December 4, 2017
Spinal Cord Injuries as a Result of Medical Malpractice in Syracuse or Elsewhere in New York, Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, December 1, 2017
