Anesthesia
Many medical malpractice cases involve medical errors by the anesthesiologist or the CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist) before, during and after a procedure or operation. Also, since most patients do not choose their anesthesiologist it may be easier to also sue the hospital or surgery center where the patient underwent anesthesia for the negligence or malpractice of the anesthesiologist or the CRNA. Our firm has been working with experts in anesthesiology for over twenty five years, which makes it much easier for us to review the facts of your case to see if it is a case that should be investigated and pursued. Even if you believe that your claim may only involve the negligence of your surgeon or some other health care provider, it is important to see if an anesthesiologist or CRNA was involved in any aspect of your care to determine if they played in role in your injury or the injury or death of a loved one.
Types of Anesthesia Errors
There are a wide variety of errors that involve negligent anesthesia care, including:
- Failing to perform a thorough pre-anesthesia evaluation to prevent injury or harmful drug interactions in patients with abnormal airways and/or who are allergic to certain anesthesia medications
- Failing to choose the right anesthesia option to lower the risk of injury
- Failing to properly intubate the patient causing them to aspirate or vomit at the start of anesthesia
- Failing to properly put the breathing tube into the patient (intubation) causing injury to the vocal cords
- Failing to monitor the vital signs of the patient during surgery, including blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation
- Failing to properly position the patient before surgery causing nerve injuries in the arms, legs, back or neck
- Prolonged sedation
- Taking the breathing tube out (extubation) too quickly after surgery
- Discharging a patient too quickly from the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) before they can safely be sent to their room or home
- Prescribing too much pain medication after a procedure or operation
The only way to determine if there has been an injury caused by an anesthesiologist or CRNA is to carefully review all of the medical records, which we will obtain for you if we believe the facts of the case may lead to a valid claim. Then, if the medical records lead us to believe that there has been an anesthesia error, we will have your claim reviewed by an expert in anesthesia care to see if we have a case.
All of this initial investigation is done at no charge to you, and we will only be reimbursed for our costs if we resolve your claim to your satisfaction either by settlement or trial. Further, our services are provided on a contingent fee basis, so there is no charge for attorney’s fees unless we resolve your claim to your satisfaction either by settlement or trial. You must act quickly if you think you may have a medical malpractice claim because Florida has a very short statute of limitations in which to bring a medical malpractice claim.
The law as to when the statute of limitations ends in a medical malpractice case is very complex. Even if you have been told by another law firm that the statute of limitations has expired or you do not have a claim please call us to get our opinion. Many times we have been able to bring successful claims for clients that have been told by other lawyers that they do not have a valid claim or that their claim has been barred by the statute of limitations.
If you are looking for a law firm dedicated to the successful investigation and prosecution of medical malpractice claims involving issues related to anesthesia errors please call our law office at 813-264-4800 or email your questions to David Eaton.