Anesthesia malpractice can lead to serious injury or even death. Before someone can pursue compensation, they would need to understand what qualifies as anesthesia malpractice in Ohio.
Evidence can play a key role in establishing liability and proving that a healthcare worker did not meet the standard of care that is expected of a medical doctor or nurse anesthetist.
Common Examples of Anesthesia Malpractice
Doctors and nurses can make errors before, during, and after administering anesthesia. Diagnostic errors account for 26.6% of malpractice claims, and healthcare workers who fail to screen for factors that could complicate the administration of an anesthetic could face liability. Common errors can include:
- Administering the wrong medication
- Using the wrong dosage
- Failing to account for potentially adverse reactions
- Improperly intubating a patient
- Failing to carefully monitor oxygen levels or other vital signs
When warning signs appear, delays in responding can allow a preventable complication to become a serious medical emergency. Errors may also occur after surgery. A patient recovering from anesthesia requires careful monitoring for respiratory problems and other complications.
Proving an Anesthesia Provider Was Negligent
Although many people associate medical doctors with anesthesia administration, certified registered nurse anesthetists administer more than 58.5 million anesthetics per year. Both types of healthcare workers work at hospitals like Cleveland Clinic Main Campus, Ohio State University Hospital, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, and other facilities across the state.
When someone suffers an anesthesia-related injury, they must prove that the healthcare worker failed to deliver the acceptable standard of care. This basically means that they would need to gather evidence that shows that another reasonably skilled anesthesiologist would have acted differently under similar circumstances.
If the doctor or nurse deviated from the accepted standard of care and that failure caused the patient harm, they may be held liable for the resulting damages.
Compensation You May Be Owed
When someone suffers harm because a doctor or nurse failed to provide the accepted standard of care, the injured party may be eligible to pursue compensation from that healthcare provider or the hospital they work for. A medical malpractice claim can directly address the financial losses someone suffered from an injury. These are known as economic damages, and they can reflect lost wages, medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, and other damages.
A medical malpractice claim could also address the intangible harm someone suffered from medical negligence. Pain and suffering can be calculated using special formulas. When both types of damages are carefully documented and accounted for, a settlement can reflect the full scope of losses that someone suffered due to medical malpractice.
Why You Should Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Ohio’s anesthesia error laws place the burden of proof on plaintiffs seeking compensation. This means that the party that is seeking accountability must provide evidence to back up their anesthesia malpractice claim.
Legal support from an Ohio medical malpractice attorney can provide you with the focused guidance your case deserves. When you hire a medical malpractice lawyer, you benefit from their many years of experience. They can gather evidence, negotiate with the at-fault party, and pursue litigation when necessary.
Spangenberg Shibley & Liber brings decades of experience to these complex cases. We have secured more than $1 billion in compensation for our clients, and our claims often lead to six- and seven-figure verdicts and settlements. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits.
Harmed By Anesthesia Malpractice? Let’s Talk
Anesthesia malpractice can cause brain damage, nerve injuries, organ damage, and other complications that permanently affect your life. Spangenberg Shibley & Liber has handled complex medical malpractice cases since 1946 and understands the evidence and steps that are needed to establish negligence.
Our attorneys can investigate what went wrong, document the harm you suffered, and pursue compensation from those responsible. Contact Spangenberg Shibley & Liber today to discuss your case.
