Tragic Consequences from Anesthesia Errors by Florida Health Care Providers
The ability to administer anesthesia is considered one of the most powerful advancements in modern medicine, with around 40 million anesthesia procedures occurring in the US every year according to The Joint Commission. However, there are also around 1.5 million Adverse Drug Events annually – 5.3 percent of which involve harm to the patient because of anesthesia or interventional drugs. Though you expect some risk with any medical procedure, errors and negligent acts should never be a factor in the administration of anesthesia.
All medical professionals are held to a standard of care, so it’s possible for victims to seek compensation through a medical malpractice claim. A Florida anesthesia errors lawyer can handle the process as you recover from your injuries. However, you might find it useful to review the most common mistakes health care providers make when giving anesthesia.
- Errors in Dosing: Medication dosing mistakes are a concern, whether the provider gives too much or too little. Most issues with dosing errors are due to the practitioner’s lack of experience or inadequate familiarity with equipment used to administer the drugs. Still, haste and distraction are also to blame, especially in busy, understaffed facilities.
- Unintentional Administration: When devices and equipment used to deliver anesthesia aren’t properly cleaned, residual anesthetics can build up. The residue may linger for some time, and could be mixed into the medications that are given to the next anesthesia patient. Even in minute traces, some drugs can cause serious medical implications for those with allergies.
- Ineffective Pain Management: Post-operative pain care requires striking the right balance between minimizing discomfort and reducing the adverse implications of opioid medications. Timing is essential with pain management, since administering a drug too late can put the patient in agony. Delivering medications too soon after a procedure can lead to vomiting, headaches, and other effects.
- Documentation Mistakes: A patient’s medical chart provides the baseline for all care, so any errors in these records can lead to disastrous results in administering anesthesia. The chart contains information about allergies, the medications the patient takes regularly, and what drugs he or she was given leading up to surgery. Physicians must be diligent in making sure the chart is complete and accurate, and the anesthesiologist should meticulously check for information that impacts decisions regarding administration of anesthesia.
- Improper IV Flow Rate: During a procedure, an anesthesiologist must properly monitory the IV flow rate – the level at which the drug is being delivered to the patient. The flow rate must be accurately set from the beginning of the procedure, and the physician must continually check fluid regulation throughout the process. Overload errors can lead to high blood pressure or trouble breathing, while a too-low amount can prevent the medication from working.
Reach Out to a Florida Anesthesia Errors Attorney
If you or a loved one suffered harm because of an anesthesiology error, you may be entitled to monetary damages for your losses. Our Miami anesthesia error lawyers at Freidin Brown, P.A. specifically focus on medical malpractice cases, so we’re prepared to fight for your rights. To learn more about how these cases work, please contact our offices to set up a free consultation today.
Resource:
jointcommission.org/en/resources/for-consumers/speak-up-campaigns/anesthesia-and-sedation/
