Anesthesia Errors
Anesthesia errors are among the most dangerous medical malpractice claims because negligence can cause brain damage or death. The three categories in which anesthesia errors can occur are the timing and amount of anesthesia administered, monitoring of the patient, and mechanical error.
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Last Updated:
August 18, 2025
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What are anesthesia error?
If a patient receives too much anesthesia during an operation, serious side effects like dementia, mental or physical impairment, hallucinations, or respiratory distress may be a result. However, an insufficient amount of anesthesia can lead to anesthesia awareness-a condition where the patient is unable to communicate or move but feels pain. Similar reactions can take place when the anesthesiologist administers the medication too late.
Many medical malpractice cases regarding anesthesia errors occur when the anesthesiologist neglects to monitor the patient for any reason. Before surgery begins, anesthesia error can occur by neglecting to inform the patient of the necessary preparation. Some of the most common claims are the doctor failing to consult the patient’s medical records and allergies, resulting in an allergic reaction to the anesthesia. Neglect of medical records may also result in a harmful reaction when the anesthesia reacts to the patient’s current medication. If you think your doctor has wrongfully prescribed medication, you can file a claim regarding medication errors.
What happens if there are mechanical errors?
Mechanical error also falls under the realm of malpractice. Doctors are responsible for ensuring their equipment is safe and functioning for any procedure, so if anesthesia is mislabeled or the machine does not properly administer the correct amount, a medical malpractice claim is warranted. When this happens, the patient can hire a medical malpractice attorney to hold the doctors and hospital responsible for any damages.
As with all medical malpractice cases, your anesthesia error claim must meet the necessary standards. First, you must show that there was a patient-doctor relationship between yourself and the physician in question. Next, you must be able to prove that there was a violation of the standard of care and a reasonable doctor would not have made the same error. You must also prove that there was serious injuries or consequences due to the mistake of the doctor.
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