Anesthesia is an incredible medical development that makes it possible for patients to undergo life-changing and life-saving procedures without pain or discomfort. If used incorrectly, however, anesthesia can cause traumatic brain injuries, permanent damage and death.
At Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC, our Minneapolis medical malpractice attorneys are passionate about delivering justice to victims of medical malpractice in Minneapolis and throughout Minnesota. If you are a victim of a traumatic anesthesia error, contact our Minneapolis anesthesia error lawyers to begin the legal process with a free initial consultation.
Why Choose Us?
- Our attorneys have recovered over $200 million in settlements and jury verdicts for our clients.
- Our team has more than 40 years of experience practicing medical malpractice law.
- Our law firm is known for putting clients first every single time.
- We can handle a wide range of large cases as well as file claims on behalf of individuals.
- There are no fees unless we win your anesthesia error lawsuit in Minneapolis.
How Can an Anesthesia Error Lawyer in Minneapolis Help?
Anesthesia errors can lead to complex medical malpractice claims in Minneapolis. This area of law comes with many complicated legal issues, statutes and nuances. Handling a claim on your own, without legal representation, can place a mental and financial burden on you and your family.
Hiring a trusted Minneapolis anesthesia error lawyer, on the other hand, can give you peace of mind and lead to a greater financial recovery. An anesthesia malpractice lawyer can help prove your claim by gathering relevant medical records, witness statements and medical expert testimony and presenting it to an insurance company, judge or jury.
Your attorney will accurately assess the value of your injury claim and use tailored legal strategies to seek a settlement or jury verdict that reflects the true costs of your injuries. You will have a trustworthy advocate handling the legal legwork of your claim from start to finish while you focus on healing.
What Is an Anesthesia Error?
An anesthesia error occurs when an anesthesiologist or another health care provider falls short of the medical standard of care when intubating, anesthetizing or monitoring a patient during a surgical procedure.
A patient under general anesthesia is entirely within the care of the supervising anesthesiologist or physician. Since anesthesia directly affects a patient’s oxygen levels, breathing and blood pressure, even a small mistake can have catastrophic consequences.
Injuries and Poor Health Outcomes Connected to Anesthesia Errors
It is imperative for anesthesiologists to fulfill their responsibilities in keeping patients under anesthesia as safe as possible. Anesthesia errors during surgical procedures – including childbirth and C-sections – can lead to severe harm and even death.
Possibilities include:
- Anesthesia awareness, where the patient wakes up during the procedure but cannot move or speak
- Anesthesia overdose and systemic toxicity
- Hypoxia or aspiration (intubation errors)
- Poorly inserted oxygen tubes that injure the trachea or larynx
- Lack of oxygen reaching the brain, resulting in brain injuries
- Permanent brain damage or neurological deficits
- Stroke or cardiac arrest
- Malignant hyperthermia
- Accidental spinal injection (during epidural) and nerve damage
- Coma and death, in severe cases
Anesthesia mistakes and medical errors can have long-term implications for victims. Injured patients may suffer serious and catastrophic injuries that require expensive medical care, hospitalization, therapy and rehabilitation.
What Does Correct Anesthesia Treatment Look Like?
Anesthesia should be administered safely and properly based on certain methods and standards that are upheld by the medical industry. Before the procedure, doctors should have a clear understanding of the patient’s health history and current medications being taken. The anesthesia medication should be carefully concocted and measured based on the patient’s age, weight and medical condition.
Once the procedure is underway, health care providers in the room must carefully monitor the patient’s vital signs to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Proper monitoring will allow a physician to detect signs of a problem and take action before traumatic complications arise. At the conclusion of the procedure, the anesthesia must be safely reversed and the patient should be monitored for side effects.
When Is an Anesthesia Error Medical Malpractice?
An anesthesia error may constitute medical malpractice if there is evidence that the anesthesiologist or another physician violated or breached the medical standards of care, and that this resulted in injury or harm to the patient.
Common examples of health care provider negligence that can lead to anesthesia errors include:
- Incorrect dosage or mixture
- Adverse drug interaction errors
- Improper patient intubation
- Failure to monitor the patient during the procedure
- Failure to notice an emergency situation or anesthesia complications
- Failure to respond to signs of respiratory distress
- Medical team communication lapses
- Equipment failures and product defects
You or your Minneapolis anesthesia error attorney must provide evidence proving that the physician or defendant owed you a duty of care, breached this duty of care, caused the anesthesia error and that you suffered harm as a result. Available evidence may include medical records, witness statements and testimony from an anesthesia expert.
What Is the Statute of Limitations?
Under Minnesota law, you generally have four years from the date of the act of malpractice to file a legal claim for an anesthesia error. This is the statute of limitations under Minnesota Statutes § 541.076. It is important to act quickly, however, as key evidence may become unavailable or unreliable over time.
There’s also a requirement for medical malpractice claims in Minnesota to be supported with a “Certification of Expert Review.” This is an affidavit or official legal document stating that an attorney has reviewed the claim with a qualified medical expert, and the expert is of the opinion that at least one health care provider did not meet the applicable medical standard of care, and that this caused harm to the plaintiff.
What Types of Financial Compensation Are Available?
A successful anesthesia error claim or lawsuit in Minneapolis could lead to the financial recovery that you and your family need to overcome this traumatic event with less of a financial burden. You may be eligible for compensation for current and future related medical costs, short-term or long-term disability, lost wages, lost capacity to earn, pain and suffering, and additional damages.
Contact Our Minneapolis Anesthesia Error Attorney for a Free Consultation Today
Medical malpractice cases involving anesthesia errors can be incredibly daunting. Unfortunately, the health care provider and its insurance company will not be on your side. An experienced Minneapolis anesthesia error attorney, however, will be dedicated to protecting your rights and best interests every step of the way.
At Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC, our award-winning Minneapolis anesthesia eror attorneys can handle your claim with care and finesse. As your lawyers, we will pursue justice and maximum compensation for an avoidable anesthesia error on your behalf with a tailored legal strategy. Learn more during a free initial consultation with our anesthesia error lawyer in Minneapolis. Contact us online or call (612) 333-4662 today to get started.