When Medical Care Goes Wrong: Anesthesia Errors in Chicago and How to Seek Justice

Anesthesia is a necessary and often critical component of many medical procedures. When administered correctly, patients can undergo surgical procedures without feeling pain or discomfort. However, anesthesia errors can result in severe harm or even death. In this article, we will explore the common types of anesthesia errors, the consequences of anesthesia errors, and what steps you can take to seek justice.

Common Types of Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia errors can occur in Chicago hospitals for various reasons, including a lack of training, medical negligence, or equipment failure. The most common types of anesthesia errors include:

Overdose or Underdose

Administering too much or too little anesthesia can seriously harm a patient. Overdose can lead to respiratory or cardiac arrest, while underdose can result in patients waking up during surgery.

Failure to Monitor Vital Signs

During surgery, failure to continuously monitor a patient’s vitals can result in complications, such as a drop in blood pressure or heart rate.

Allergic Reactions

Some patients may have an allergic reaction to anesthesia. These reactions can range from mild to severe, including hives, difficulty breathing, and even anaphylaxis.

Intubation Errors

Proper intubation is critical during anesthesia administration. Errors in intubation can lead to serious harm, including lung damage, brain damage, and even death.

Consequences of Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia is a crucial aspect of modern medicine, used to keep patients pain-free and unconscious during surgical procedures. However, when something goes wrong with anesthesia administration, the consequences can be severe and life-altering. Some of the most devastating effects of anesthesia errors include asphyxia, brain damage, coma, death, heart attack, permanent brain damage, life-threatening allergic reaction, neurological injuries, paralysis involving spinal cord damage, and stroke.

Asphyxia, the stoppage of breathing, can occur if the anesthesiologist does not monitor the patient’s breathing correctly or if there is a problem with the anesthesia equipment. If the patient’s brain is deprived of oxygen for too long, it can lead to brain damage, coma, or even death.

Sometimes, anesthesia errors can cause a heart attack, especially in patients with pre-existing heart conditions. Anesthesia can also cause a drop in blood pressure, which can lead to a stroke or other neurological injuries.

Life-threatening allergic reactions can also occur as a result of anesthesia errors. This can be due to a patient’s allergies or because the anesthesia was contaminated or expired.

Permanent brain damage can occur if there is a problem with the administration of anesthesia, such as an incorrect dosage or if the patient is not adequately monitored during the procedure. This can result in the patient being left vegetative or with severe cognitive impairment.

Anesthesia errors can also lead to paralysis involving spinal cord damage. This can occur if the anesthesiologist fails to properly position the patient or if there is a problem with the equipment used during the procedure.

Patients and their loved ones should know the potential risks and hold medical professionals accountable for errors. Seeking the advice of an experienced medical malpractice attorney can help ensure that victims of anesthesia errors receive the compensation they deserve.

How to Seek Justice

If you or a loved one has been the victim of anesthesia errors, take steps to seek justice.

Contact an Attorney

The first step in seeking justice is to contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney. An attorney can help you understand your legal rights and options.

Gather Medical Records

Gathering medical records is an essential part of any medical malpractice case. Your attorney will need these records to build a strong case on your behalf.

File a Complaint

You can file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. This will trigger an investigation into the incident and may result in disciplinary action against the responsible parties.

Wrapping Up

Anesthesia errors can have severe consequences and leave patients and their families struggling to cope with the aftermath. The range of possible outcomes is extensive and harrowing. However, patients have legal options available in the event of an anesthesia error.

Seeking the help of an experienced medical malpractice attorney can help patients and their loved ones navigate the legal process and recover the compensation they need to move forward. It can also hold medical professionals accountable for their actions and help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. If you or a loved one has been the victim of an anesthesia error in Chicago, do not hesitate to seek help and pursue justice.