Baltimore Anesthesia Error Attorney

Anesthesiology is a complicated medical science; even the smallest mistake can result in a severe, potentially fatal injury. If you have been injured due to an anesthesia error, Brown & Barron is here to help hold the liable party accountable.

Our attorneys are proud to bring the following to the table:

• More than 137 years of collective experience
• Millions of dollars recovered for our clients
• Tailored, client-focused counsel and representation
• Highly rated, award-winning legal team, including multiple Super Lawyers® listees
• Appellate attorneys prepared to challenge unfair judgments

When it comes to justice, we won’t back down. We will do everything in our power to recover your full and fair compensation.

Get in touch with a anesthesia errors lawyer serving Baltimore, (410) 698-1717 for a free case evaluation.

What Is Anesthesia?

Anesthesia is a medical procedure used to induce a reversible loss of sensation or consciousness in a patient, primarily to facilitate medical procedures that would otherwise be painful or uncomfortable. It enables patients to undergo surgery or other medical interventions without experiencing pain or distress.

The following are some of the common types of anesthesia:

• General Anesthesia: This type of anesthesia renders the patient unconscious and unresponsive. It involves the administration of drugs through inhalation (inhaled anesthetics) or intravenously. General anesthesia is commonly used for major surgeries and procedures where the patient needs to be completely unaware and immobile.
• Regional Anesthesia: Regional anesthesia involves numbing a specific region of the body, such as an arm, leg, or the lower half of the body. This type of anesthesia is achieved through the injection of local anesthetics near the nerves that supply sensation to the targeted area. Examples of regional anesthesia include epidural anesthesia and spinal anesthesia, commonly used for procedures such as childbirth and lower abdominal or leg surgeries.
• Local Anesthesia: Local anesthesia involves numbing a small, specific area of the body, typically through the injection or topical application of local anesthetic agents. It is often used for minor surgical procedures, dental work, and diagnostic procedures like skin biopsies.

What is an Anesthesia Error?

Common examples of anesthesia errors include:

• Delaying the delivery of anesthesia
• Administering too much or too little anesthesia
• Administering the wrong type of anesthesia
• Administering anesthesia using defective medical equipment
• Failing to monitor the patient while under anesthesia
• Failing to promptly address anesthesia complications
• Failing to consider a patient’s risk factors, such as a history of anesthesia complications

If you suspect that your injury is rooted in an anesthesia error, our experienced trial lawyers want to speak with you. We can launch a full investigation into your case to uncover any instances of negligence.

Compensation for an Anesthesia Error Lawsuit

After an anesthesia error, you could face significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges. If your personal injury lawsuit is successful, you could obtain a monetary award that allows you to address these challenges. While money cannot undo the harm you have suffered, it does have the potential to cover these damages and help you adjust to the changes in your life your injury brings. 

Medical Expenses

You might face significant medical bills following an anesthesia error. If the mistake prevented you from receiving your originally scheduled treatment, you might now require multiple medical procedures. Your personal injury case could provide you with compensation for the cost of this medical care. 

Lost Income

If you cannot work due to the injuries you suffered from an anesthesia error, you might miss out on your primary source of income. Weeks or months of missed paychecks could quickly turn your budget upside down. A successful personal injury case could allow you to recover your lost wages, salary, tips, retirement contributions, and more.

Pain and Suffering

Any physical pain and emotional anguish that results from an anesthesia error could also lead to a monetary award. However, there is no easy way to measure pain objectively because it can differ drastically from one person to another. To establish the value of your pain and suffering, our firm could review how it has affected your quality of life. These damages can vary, although they often scale with the cost of your medical care. 

Diminished Future Earnings

Dealing with a medical injury following an anesthesia error can affect your financial situation in ways other than causing you to lose wages. If your injuries result in permanent disabilities, you might be unable to perform the same type of work you held prior to your injuries. This inability to work at your previous job could reduce your long-term earning potential. Your lawsuit could recover damages based on your future lost earnings. 

Who Is Responsible for an Anesthesia Error?

It could take a thorough investigation to determine who is responsible for an anesthesia error. Ultimately, the doctor overseeing your care is responsible for ensuring they use anesthesia safely and appropriately. However, other parties could also bear responsibility for these errors. 

Generally, several parties may be held liable for anesthesia errors:

• Anesthesiologist: Anesthesiologists are medical doctors who specialize in administering anesthesia and managing patient care during surgery or other medical procedures. They are typically the primary responsible party for anesthesia-related errors. Anesthesia errors attributable to negligence, such as incorrect dosage, improper monitoring, or failure to respond to complications, may lead to liability for the anesthesiologist.
• Nurse Anesthetist: Nurse anesthetists are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have specialized training in anesthesia administration. Like anesthesiologists, they may be held liable for anesthesia errors if they deviate from the standard of care, resulting in patient harm.
• Surgeon: In some cases, the surgeon may share liability for anesthesia errors, particularly if they contribute to the error through actions such as failing to communicate effectively with the anesthesia team, prolonging surgery unnecessarily, or performing procedures in a manner that increases anesthesia risks.
• Hospital or Medical Facility: Hospitals and medical facilities may also be held liable for anesthesia errors under the legal principle of vicarious liability or respondeat superior, which holds employers responsible for the actions of their employees when those actions occur within the scope of employment. Additionally, hospitals may be liable for inadequate staffing, training, or supervision of anesthesia providers.
• Manufacturers of Anesthesia Equipment or Drugs: In cases where anesthesia errors result from defective equipment or medication, the manufacturers of such products may be held liable under product liability laws.
• Other Healthcare Professionals: Depending on the circumstances, other healthcare professionals involved in the patient's care, such as nurses, pharmacists, or technicians, may also share liability for anesthesia errors if their actions or omissions contribute to the harm suffered by the patient.

Our medical malpractice lawyers can review medical records to determine liability, then file an insurance claim or lawsuit before the statutory deadline passes.

Contact Brown & Barron online today to schedule a free case review with a anesthesia errors lawyer serving Baltimore.

When Times Get Tough, We’re Here for You

Legal action may seem insurmountable when you are still recovering from what happened, but a successful lawsuit can help you along the path to recovery. With the help of a skilled lawyer, you may be compensated for the financial and emotional/mental losses related to the anesthesia error. Often, we are able to recover compensation for our clients’ medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.

If you are ready to pursue justice following your anesthesia error, Brown & Barron is here to help. Our firm is prepared to seek the compensation you deserve while removing the stress of a personal injury case from your shoulders. 

Call today for a free consultation with a Baltimore anesthesia error attorney.