Anesthesia is a powerful tool that surgeons rely on to keep patients comfortable while undergoing procedures. However, in some cases, it can lead to injuries. Anesthesia is administered in hospitals, doctor’s offices, and ambulatory surgery centers, and maintaining strict medical standards is essential for keeping patients safe.
You can rely on Matos Personal Injury Lawyers to pursue justice on your behalf when someone else’s negligence has left you unable to work. If you have suffered an injury related to the use of anesthesia in Lakewood, Colorado, you may be able to file a personal injury claim. Contact our Lakewood medical malpractice attorneys at (720) 912-7274 for help. We offer a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
How Our Medical Malpractice Attorneys Can Help With an Anesthesia Injury Claim in Lakewood, CO
At Matos Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re more than just your lawyers — we’re your advocates and allies. We’ve been offering our legal services since 2016, helping people get the compensation they need after suffering an injury due to someone else’s negligence.
When you turn to our Lakewood medical malpractice lawyers, we will help you by:
- Providing a clear assessment of your case
- Gathering the necessary evidence to support the claim
- Negotiating with insurers and other opposing parties
- Going to court if necessary
Our team is here to offer the support you need if you’ve sustained an anesthesia injury. Contact our experienced attorneys in Lakewood, CO, to begin.
How Do Anesthesia Injuries Occur?
Anesthesia errors can occur for many reasons, including medical negligence. In the United States, anesthesia is the direct cause of 34 deaths and a contributing cause of 281 deaths every year.
Among these fatalities, anesthesia overdose was the main cause in 46.6% of cases. Dosage errors occur if the anesthesia is not labeled correctly or if the anesthesiologist administers an improper dosage because of negligence or error.
An anesthesiologist must perform a number of pre-operative checks before using the drug. These include reviewing the patient’s history as well as ensuring that the patient did not eat or drink anything for a certain number of hours before the procedure. Not making these checks could result in allergic reactions or even aspiration.
Intubating a patient incorrectly can also result in many types of injuries. When you are under anesthesia, you are essentially paralyzed, making it very difficult to breathe. To keep you breathing, anesthesiologists have to insert a breathing tube into your trachea.
If the anesthesiologist doesn’t do this correctly, it can result in:
- Brain damage from lack of oxygen
- Paralysis of the vocal cords
- Nerve damage to the neck or esophagus
- Perforated trachea
- Arrhythmia
- Injuries to the lips, mouth, or teeth
Not monitoring oxygen levels or turning off alarms are all considered medical negligence that can result in serious and even fatal injuries. Leaving the patient alone after administering anesthesia is also a medical error.
An anesthesia overdose occurs when you receive too much anesthetic. It can lead to many types of injuries, including:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injury
- Brain injury
- Coma
- Birth defects
- Asphyxia
- Death
Another potential issue is anesthesia awareness. This refers to being awake and even feeling pain during the procedure while still being paralyzed and unable to communicate. It occurs if you received too little anesthesia or if you had a delayed reaction.
Someone going through anesthesia awareness may experience severe pain, terror, and the inability to breathe. All of this contributes to the potential development of anxiety or panic disorders, PTSD, sleep disorders, and medical phobias.
What To Do After Suffering an Anesthesia Injury
Anesthesia injuries can result in mental health concerns, as well as physical injuries that negatively impact your quality of life. If you’re struggling with these consequences, you may not want to begin a legal process, but acting quickly is essential. You deserve to get compensated for the pain and suffering you have endured because of medical malpractice.
Filing a claim can help you cover your medical bills, including any special equipment you may need to use because of your injuries. If you missed work because of the injury, you may be able to seek compensation for lost wages. And if you are no longer able to do your work, you can also get compensation for future lost income.
The best thing you can do after suffering an anesthesia injury is to turn to a personal injury lawyer who can fight for your rights. The sooner you reach out, the better since you will have the evidence and witnesses you need to support your case.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Lakewood Anesthesia Injury Attorneys
Don’t shoulder all of the bills and stress of dealing with an injury that someone else caused. If you received an anesthesia injury in Lakewood, Colorado, turn to the experienced medical malpractice lawyers at Matos Personal Injury Lawyers. Contact our Lakewood medical malpractice attorneys at (720) 912-7274 for a free consultation.