Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Anesthesia Errors Can Result in Permanent Disabilities to Maryland Patients
Hold anesthesiologists and hospitals responsible for negligence
Anesthesia has made it possible to perform complex lifesaving surgeries. However, the powerful drugs used to sedate patients can cause debilitating injuries, mental trauma or death if not administered correctly.
Established in 1987, LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton, P.A. represents injured patients in medical malpractice claims against Baltimore-area healthcare providers. Multiple parties are typically responsible for anesthesia mistakes. Our law firm leaves no stone unturned discovering who is responsible for your injuries and fighting to recover the compensation you deserve for your surgical team’s errors and hospital negligence.
Brain trauma from anesthesia overdose
Anesthesia works by inducing unconsciousness, providing pain relief, relaxing the skeletal muscles and depressing autonomic nervous system reflexes. This allows doctors to perform procedures that would otherwise be unendurable, making anesthesia one of the true marvels of modern medicine. But when an anesthesiologist administers too high a dose of the drugs, these same qualities can cause the heart and lungs to stop functioning and lead to severe brain damage or death.
Intraoperative awareness
Anesthesia also causes amnesia so you forget everything after it is over. In conjunction with sedation during surgery, the loss of memory helps patients mentally cope with the traumatic event. If the anesthesiologist administers too little of the drugs, you may experience and remember everything, with no way to voluntarily signal your distress. Waking up during surgery and recalling the events afterward, referred to as intraoperative awareness, can result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, fear and a crippling unwillingness to undergo any sort of medical procedure in the future.
Spinal injury from epidurals and spinal blocks
Vaginal delivery and some surgeries on the lower back and legs can be performed under localized anesthesia. An epidural or spinal block allows patients to remain awake during the procedure, but temporarily paralyzes the muscles and numbs pain. An improperly inserted needle can lead to spinal cord damage and resulting paralysis, loss of sensation and incontinence. In addition, because the drugs are administered into the spinal region, contaminated medications can cause a life-threatening meningitis infection.
Equipment malfunction in the operating room
Special equipment monitors your vitals while you are under any type of anesthesia. A dangerously depressed cardiovascular system may indicate an overdose, whereas high blood pressure and rapid heart rate might be signs of intraoperative awareness. Equipment malfunction in these circumstances would put your life and health in jeopardy.
Maryland Medical Malpractice Lawyers at LeViness Tolzman & Hamilton Recover Damages from Anesthesia Errors
You may be entitled to recover damages from your anesthesiologist, surgical team and hospital for anesthesia mistakes. Call LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton, P.A. at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact our firm online to schedule your free initial consultation with our Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys. Our Baltimore firm takes all injury cases on a contingency basis, meaning you do not owe us attorney fees until we recover compensation for you.