Philadelphia Anesthesia Error Lawyer

Surgery is nerve-wracking enough without having to worry about receiving the correct amount of anesthesia to keep you comfortable and at the correct level of consciousness. During surgery, failure to use or properly monitor anesthesia can cause serious harm to the patient. In many cases, the most dangerous part of a medical procedure is not the surgery, but the anesthesia administered prior to and during. If the anesthesiologist fails to properly administer the drugs, the results are often devastating. Anesthesia complications occur on a regular basis, and can cause severe injuries such as brain damage or even death. In addition, if the doctor does not use enough anesthesia, the pain the patient experiences can be both intense and traumatic. If you or a loved one experienced an injury due to the failure to properly administer anesthesia, contact the medical malpractice attorneys at Lowenthal & Abrams, Injury Attorneys. Our Philadelphia anesthesia error lawyers could help you determine if you have a claim against the hospital or clinic that hurt you.

Negligence and Anesthesia

Any individual involved in anesthesia administration may be liable for personal injuries that are caused by their negligence. This includes not only to the anesthesiologist but also the surgeons, nurse anesthetists, and hospital associated with the operation. There are a number of reasons that anesthesia complications may occur.  Many of them are related to preventable human error.

• Overdose / underdose
• Illegible paperwork
• Outdated equipment
• Improper positioning of patient’s body
• Wrongful placement of the endotracheal tube
• Poor communication between staff members
• Staff’s lack of proper education in the field
• Incorrect dosage
• Drug Interactions
• Failure to monitor the patient

Anesthesia errors don’t only occur in the hospital. They can occur prior to when the anesthesia is given. This could be due to a failure to ask the proper questions by the medical staff, or in any location where anesthesia might be given to a patient. Locations include:

• Operating room
• Pre-operative care
• Out-patient procedures
• Delivery room
• Dental office procedures
• Recovery rooms

Depending on the cause of the anesthesia error, a lawyer in Philadelphia could determine how to pursue a claim.

Consequences of Improper Anesthesia Administration

The failure to properly use and control anesthesia can have serious and frightening consequences. Some of these include:

• Waking up during surgery
• Cardiopulmonary reaction
• Skin issues
• Hematologic complications
• Brain damage
• Asphyxiation
• Paralysis
• Tracheal damage
• Loss of bodily function
• Coma
• Death

Living with the unfortunate consequences of an anesthesia complication or error can be extremely costly. The surviving patient may require a life time of care, medical equipment and medical attention. For the moderately injured patients harmed from the anesthesia, they will need therapy and extensive recovery time.  A seriously injured person will require even more assistance. You and your family deserve compensation for the future medical needs of your loved one, the loss of income, pain & suffering, and emotional stress. Our attorneys in Philadelphia could help someone pursue compensation for any complications they suffered as a result of an anesthesia error.

Results We’ve Obtained for Injured Patients

Lowenthal & Abrams, Injury Attorneys, has fought for victims of medical negligence for decades and has recovered millions in settlements and verdicts for injured patients and their families. Below are some of our notable medical malpractice case results:

Improper Treatment

Lately, a frightening trend of bad behavior while patients are under has come to the attention of the public. Cases in which patients have been mocked or even molested. Fortunately, this is exceedingly rare, but if it occurs, it is potentially a criminal act, in the case of molestation, and a violation of your rights as a patient.  Substantial verdicts have been awarded in such cases.

Contact Our Philadelphia Anesthesia Error Attorneys

There is a standard of patient care that may not have been met when it comes to anesthesia mistakes. If you or a loved one has been injured by an anesthesia error or complication, contact Lowenthal & Abrams, Injury Attorneys, P.C. Our Philadelphia anesthesia error lawyers could discuss your case with you and give you an honest answer and explain your legal options. The consultation is free and there is no fee unless you recover.

Why hire us for your case? First of all we provide more than 30 years of legal experience in this field. Secondly, we have a medical doctor and a nurse, both of whom are also attorneys on staff. Dr. Esther M. Gallagher, M.D. and Nurse Anita Pitock, can evaluate and decipher your records with the expertise that only a physician and/or nurse can provide. This combination of medical and legal knowledge enables us to examine your case quickly and efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When should I contact a Philadelphia anesthesia error lawyer?

It’s worth speaking with a lawyer if you experienced unexpected complications tied to anesthesia, such as breathing problems, oxygen deprivation, cardiac issues, nerve or airway injuries, emergency intubation, prolonged unconsciousness, severe confusion afterward, or a longer hospital stay with no clear explanation. A consultation can help you understand whether what happened may point to negligence and what steps to take next, including preserving records and protecting important deadlines.

2. Who can be held legally responsible for an anesthesia error in Philadelphia?

Depending on what went wrong, a claim may involve the anesthesiologist, a nurse anesthetist, the surgeon, other operating-room staff, and sometimes the hospital or surgical facility. Liability usually depends on who had the duty to monitor the patient, administer medication, respond to warning signs, and follow safety procedures and whether a failure in those responsibilities caused the injury.

3. What damages can an anesthesia malpractice claim include?

In an anesthesia error case, damages may include added medical bills, rehabilitation costs, future care needs, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and compensation for pain and suffering. In the most severe cases, claims may also involve long-term disability needs or wrongful death-related losses, depending on the circumstances.

4. How can a lawyer figure out whether an anesthesia mistake occurred?

A lawyer usually starts by collecting the full record: the anesthesia chart, medication records, monitoring strips or printouts, airway and intubation notes, the operative report, and recovery room notes. Those documents can show what drugs were given, when vital signs changed, and how the team responded. In many cases, a qualified medical expert is needed to review the records and explain whether the care matched accepted standards.

5. How do I know whether I may have a valid anesthesia malpractice case?

A case may be worth investigating if there was an unexpected anesthesia complication and you can point to a clear injury afterward, such as oxygen deprivation, airway trauma, neurological symptoms, or a prolonged recovery that wasn’t explained as a normal risk. A lawyer will usually look for signs that the anesthesia care fell below accepted standards and whether that lapse is what caused the harm, not just that a complication occurred.

6. What injuries are linked to anesthesia complications?

Some problems are temporary, like severe nausea or breathing irritation. More serious cases can involve oxygen loss, brain injury, nerve damage, airway or tracheal injuries, paralysis, coma, or death. The outcome often depends on how quickly the problem was recognized and treated, along with the patient’s overall health and the complexity of the procedure.

7. What evidence matters most in an anesthesia error claim?

The anesthesia record is a big one because it’s supposed to document medications, timing, and what was happening with the patient throughout the procedure. Monitoring data, airway notes, recovery room records, follow-up treatment notes, and any later testing can also help tell the story. When the records don’t match what the patient experienced, that’s often an important detail to explore.

8. How long do I have to file an anesthesia malpractice claim in Pennsylvania?

Many Pennsylvania medical malpractice cases are subject to a two-year deadline, but the timing can get complicated depending on when you learned what happened and how the injury was discovered. Because the clock can start running before people expect it to, it’s worth getting legal advice sooner rather than waiting.

9. What kinds of compensation can an anesthesia malpractice case involve?

If the claim is successful, compensation can include medical bills, future treatment or therapy, lost income, and the impact the injury has on daily life. Pain and suffering may also be part of a case. Punitive damages exist in limited situations, but they’re not automatic and don’t apply to every case.

10. What should I do if I suspect anesthesia played a role in my injury?

Start with your health. Get follow-up care, and be clear with your new providers about what procedure you had and what symptoms began afterward. Ask for your records, keep a simple list of what you remember (dates, symptoms, conversations), and save bills and paperwork. If you’re considering a claim, speaking with a medical malpractice lawyer early can help you avoid missed deadlines and protect your options.