NY Personal Injury Attorney: Malpractice And Anesthesia Errors

Most people do not want to feel pain when having a medical procedure of any kind. This is why anesthesia is used to keep us comfortable during these times. While its effects can be a wonderful thing, anesthesia errors may result in serious complications and death.

Anesthesia is used in several forms to achieve different levels of pain relief. This is dependent upon the type of surgery someone is having.

Local Anesthesia

Commonly used at your dentist or for other minor procedures, this is generally considered the safest form. Only a small part of your body is affected and is numbed directly in that spot.

Regional Anesthesia

Larger parts of your body are involved. Pain is blocked around nerves and groups of nerves, or the spine. The patient is usually awake, as they are with local anesthesia.

General Anesthesia

The most risk is carried with this form because it involves the brain. The patient is administered anesthesia through an IV or inhalation. They feel no pain and may be unconscious or not even have any recollection the surgery.

Risks

Anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists have important jobs to monitor patients, especially during general anesthesia administration. Various drugs are used in the three types, and like any drugs, can have adverse effects when not used properly. Health care providers are responsible for taking important steps when administering anesthesia which include:

• Take a proper patient history to discover any possible allergies
• Administer correct amounts of anesthesia
• Administer correct amounts of oxygen
• Operate all equipment properly
• Monitor medication reactions

Anesthesia complications can cause a number of medical problems which can include:

• Stroke
• Respiratory injury
• Brain damage
• Heart attack
• Coma
• Death

A patient can call a NY personal injury attorney to discuss medical malpractice if the previous steps were not taken and complications resulted.