When Anesthesia Goes Wrong, We Fight for What's Right

Common Types of Anesthesia Errors We Handle

Our Pittsburgh anesthesia error lawyers represent patients who have been harmed by preventable mistakes during medical procedures. When anesthesia errors occur due to medical negligence, we hold healthcare providers accountable for their actions.

Anesthesia errors we handle:

• Dosage mistakes

• Monitoring failures
  

• Drug interaction errors
  

• Equipment malfunctions
  

• Intubation mistakes
  

• Medication mix-ups
  

• Pre-operative assessment failures
  

• Anesthesia awareness

Serious Injuries Caused by Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia mistakes can result in catastrophic injuries requiring lifelong medical care. Our Pittsburgh medical malpractice attorneys understand the devastating impact these injuries create.

Injuries our attorneys help you recover compensation for:

• Oxygen deprivation causes cognitive impairment and memory loss, requiring ongoing rehabilitation.
  

• Heart attacks or cardiac arrest from anesthesia overdoses or drug interactions.
  

• Paralysis from improper regional anesthesia or positioning during procedures.
  

• Lung damage or breathing difficulties from intubation errors.
  

• Strokes or circulation problems cause permanent deficits.
  

• PTSD, anxiety, and depression from anesthesia awareness experiences.
  

• Life-threatening reaction causing dangerous fever and muscle breakdown.
  

• Long-term impairments affecting mobility and daily activities.
  

• Fatal outcomes from anesthesia errors during routine procedures.
  

Common Causes of Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesia mistakes often stem from preventable medical errors during procedures. Understanding these causes helps families recognize when medical negligence occurred.

Medical Negligence During Administration

Healthcare providers may make critical errors, including inadequate pre-operative evaluation, failure to monitor vital signs during surgery, incorrect dosage calculations, improper response to complications, equipment misuse, and poor communication between anesthesia team members.

High-Risk Situations

Certain conditions increase complication likelihood, including patients with sleep apnea, emergency surgeries with limited preparation, elderly patients or young children, complex procedures requiring prolonged anesthesia, and patients with multiple medical conditions.

Hospital System Failures

Institutional problems contributing to errors include inadequate staffing, faulty equipment, lack of emergency protocols, insufficient training, and poor documentation practices.

What to Do If You Suffered an Anesthesia Error

If you suspect anesthesia-related injury due to medical negligence, taking prompt action protects your health and legal rights.

• Seek medical evaluation: Get second opinions from specialists who can diagnose anesthesia-related injuries.
  

• Document everything: Keep detailed records of symptoms, appointments, and statements from healthcare providers.
  

• Preserve medical records: Request complete copies, including anesthesia records and monitoring data.
  

• Avoid discussing fault: Don't discuss liability with providers or sign hospital documents without the assistance of our experienced lawyers.
  

• Contact experienced attorneys: Anesthesia cases have strict time limits requiring quick legal consultation.
  

• Continue treatment: Follow recommended medical care while building your case.
  

Understanding Pennsylvania Medical Malpractice Laws

Pennsylvania's system has specific requirements for cases involving anesthesia errors.

Certificate of Merit Requirement

Pennsylvania requires a qualified medical expert who must practice in the same specialty as the defendant and can confirm that negligence likely occurred during your anesthesia care.

Statute of Limitations

You have two years from the date you discovered or reasonably should have discovered your anesthesia-related injury to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Modified Comparative Fault

You can recover damages if you are less than 51% at fault, with compensation reduced by your fault percentage. Under Pennsylvania's comparative negligence law, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

Compensation Available for Anesthesia Error Victims

Our attorneys fight for maximum compensation covering all damages from medical negligence.