Anesthesia Malpractice Lawyer Indianapolis, IN
If you suffer from an anesthesia injury, you should talk to an anesthesia malpractice lawyer Indianapolis, IN residents trust. Anesthesiologists have a very high duty of care and can cause life-threatening injuries in patients when they are negligent. A skilled lawyer can help you file a timely medical malpractice lawsuit and protect your legal rights.
Types of Anesthesia
The type of medical procedure you undergo will dictate the kind of anesthesia you receive. Not all procedures require the patient to be completely unconscious.
Local Anesthesia
Local anesthesia numbs a small area and can be injected or applied as a topical solution. Minor procedures, such as removing moles or filling a cavity, typically use local anesthesia.
Regional Anesthesia
Regional anesthesia numbs a larger section of the body and still allows the patient to remain conscious. It is typically used for procedures like epidurals and hand surgery.
General Anesthesia:
General anesthesia causes a patient to be completely unconscious and is required for long procedures that involve large incisions, such as heart surgery. It’s the riskiest type of anesthesia.
Common Anesthesia Errors
While anesthesia is necessary for surgeries, it comes with risks and requires close monitoring. If an anesthesiologist is negligent, errors are more likely to occur. Here are the most common anesthesia errors an anesthesia malpractice lawyer in Indianapolis, IN sees:
- Administering Too Much or Too Little Anesthesia: Different patients require different amounts of anesthesia. An anesthesiologist has to consider several factors, such as the type of operation and size of the patient, before determining how much anesthesia to administer. Too little anesthesia can cause a patient to remain awake during the procedure while too much anesthesia can cause brain damage.
- Failing to Take a Patient’s History: Before an anesthesiologist administers anesthesia, he or she must ask patients about their medical conditions, the type of medications they’re currently taking and if they’re allergic to any anesthesia drugs. If they fail to ask these questions, they can risk a patient’s safety.
- Failing to Monitor the Patient: Because anesthesia can affect heart rate and respiratory rate, anesthesiologists must monitor patients closely throughout the procedure. If they fail to do this, they might miss life-threatening complications.
- Improperly Inserting Breathing Tube: Patients going under general anesthesia require intubation, which involves putting a breathing tube into the airway. Anesthesiologists must exercise great care when inserting this breathing device. Otherwise, as a medical malpractice lawyer in Indianapolis, IN can confirm, it can lead to serious complications, like decreased oxygen to the brain and laryngeal injury.
If you are the victim of an anesthesia error, you should schedule a consultation with an anesthesia malpractice lawyer in Indianapolis, IN from Ward & Ward Law Firm today to discuss your case in detail.
