Anesthesia Malpractice

Anesthesia malpractice occurs when an anesthesiologist or another doctor responsible for administering anesthesia fails to provide the right amount of protection to the patient.

Anesthesia is used to keep the patient feeling relaxed and comfortable during a medical procedure. This medication is added to the person’s body before a surgical procedure. As this works, the patient will be at rest while still being slightly alert during the process. An anesthesiologist will be responsible for measuring the proper amount of medicine that the patient will need during the procedure.

What To Know About Anesthesia Malpractice

Also, the anesthesiologist must also be aware of the patient’s vital signs. This includes knowing when to change the administration of medicine around if the patient is suffering from any possible issues during a procedure.

Anesthesia malpractice will develop if this professional fails in one’s duty to protect the patient. This may occur at any point during the medical procedure.

Consent Is Required

Informed consent must be provided to the patient. Many malpractice cases occur because the patient was not informed that he or she would be subjected to anesthesia before the procedure. The risks of anesthesia and the process for how it is to be added must be discussed so both sides can make an agreement regarding what can be done when taking care of the patient’s body as a medical procedure is administered.

Risks Before the Procedure

Many cases of anesthesia malpractice may develop before the surgery takes place. In some cases, it occurs due to the equipment not being inspected before the anesthesia is administered.

Malpractice may also occur if the patient is not informed about the dietary restrictions that must be followed before the anesthesia is provided. Also, it may develop if the doctor does not review the patient’s medical history or examine the patient to determine how much anesthesia is required.

The drugs to be used in the procedure must also be inspected. All items must be measured while the proper components have to be added during the process. This is to ensure that the patient receives only the proper anesthesia and the right amount of care.

Problems During a Procedure

Many problems within may develop as anesthesia is administered during a medical procedure. For instance, a patient may not be properly intubated, thus causing that person not to get the coverage one needs.

Also, malpractice occurs when the doctor fails to take a look at the patient’s vital signs. The doctor must take a careful look at the patient’s heart rate, blood pressure rate, and other crucial measurements and then adjust the anesthesia by changes in those rates.

What Conditions Develop?

The conditions that may be caused by anesthesia malpractice can last for one’s entire life. A patient may develop a heart attack or a collapsed lung following an extreme amount of stress. A brain injury or stroke may also develop as oxygen levels in the body are dramatically influenced.

Records Must Be Kept

Records of all anesthesia-related activities must especially be kept in a doctor’s office. This includes a review of the particular drugs that were used during a procedure and how long they were in use for. The records can be reported on later and used to document what took place during the surgical procedure.

A doctor must make sure anesthesia is provided to the patient at all times. The patient must also ask for as much information on what is being used during the procedure and how the plan will move forward as a means of preventing the possible threat of malpractice.

SOURCES

  1. Feldman, JM. “Do anesthesia information systems increase malpractice exposure? Results of a survey.” Anesthesia and Analgesia, 99(3), 2004, 840-843.