Anaesthetic negligence is a serious concern in healthcare, with potentially devastating consequences for patients. By understanding the causes and consequences of anaesthetic negligence, healthcare providers can take proactive measures to prevent errors and improve patient safety. Victims of anaesthetic negligence have the right to seek legal recourse and compensation for their injuries.
If you are ill or injured and undergoing surgery, the medical team treating you owes you a duty of care. If they breach that duty of care, you may have a claim for compensation.
There are generally three types of anaesthetic, as it depends on what type of surgery is required and whether the patient needs to be conscious. They include:
- General anaesthetic: This is a combination of injections and gas which affects the central nervous system and places the patient in controlled unconsciousness.
- Local anaesthetic: This is delivered to a specific area of the body, which will numb and reduce pain. The patient is conscious, but they will not be able to feel that area of the body.
- Regional anaesthetic: This is used for larger parts of the body which cannot be targeted with local anaesthetic alone.
Most anaesthetic negligence claims involve error by the anaesthetist during surgery. These mistakes can be minor, but can have devastating effects.
When Does anaesthetic negligence occur?
Anaesthetic negligence can happen at various stages of medical care, including:
- Pre-Operative Assessment: Failure to properly assess a patient's medical history, allergies, or other relevant factors before administering anaesthesia.
- Dosage Errors: Administering too much or too little anaesthesia, leading to complications during surgery.
- Monitoring: Inadequate monitoring of a patient's vital signs during anaesthesia administration, which can result in undetected complications such as hypoxia or cardiac arrest.
- Failure to Respond: Neglecting to respond promptly and appropriately to complications or emergencies during anaesthesia, such as airway obstruction or allergic reactions.
- Post-Operative Care: Inadequate post-operative monitoring or management of complications arising from anaesthesia, leading to further harm or prolonged recovery.
- Human Error: Mistakes by healthcare professionals in calculating dosages, administering anaesthesia, or responding to complications.
- Communication Breakdown: Lack of clear communication between members of the surgical team regarding patient information, allergies, or medical history.
- Equipment Malfunction: Failure or malfunction of anaesthesia delivery systems or monitoring equipment.
- Inadequate Training or Staffing: Insufficient training or staffing levels leading to errors or oversights in anaesthesia administration and monitoring.
- Negligent Practices: Deviation from established protocols or best practices in anaesthesia care.
What injuries can happen?
- Brain damage due to failure to correctly intubate, depriving the patient of oxygen
- The patient feeling pain because the anaesthetic administered was ineffective (anaesthetic awareness)
- Nerve injury through negligent damage caused by injections, epidurals and nerve blocks. Nerve injury
- Physical complications
- Psychological complications
- Brain damage involving anaesthetic error
- Patients can suffer catastrophic brain damage and stroke because of anaesthetic error during surgery or equipment failure.
- Risk to the brain continues beyond the operating room. Post-operatively, generally the longer the patient is dependent on physiological support systems, the higher the risk of neurological deficit.
- Patients can find themselves conscious during an operation performed under general anaesthetic. The experience of pain and helplessness can be traumatic and can cause significant psychological injury.
- Our medical negligence team has many years' experience pursuing claims on behalf of clients who have been conscious during surgery.
- Injury can result when anaesthetic is wrongly injected into the spinal cord or when nerves are damaged during the course of an injection. Some injuries can cause serious pain and disability.
Consequences of anaesthetic Negligence?
The consequences of anaesthetic negligence can vary in severity but can include:
- Physical Injury: Patients may suffer from complications such as brain damage, nerve injury, respiratory issues, or cardiac arrest.
- Pain, Suffering and Psychological Trauma: Experiencing anaesthesia-related complications can lead to anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or other psychological issues.
- Prolonged Recovery: Complications from anaesthesia negligence can result in extended hospital stays, additional medical interventions, and longer recovery times.
- Financial Burden: Medical expenses related to treating complications, loss of income due to prolonged recovery, and potential long-term disability can impose a significant financial burden on victims and their families.
- Loss of Trust: Patients may lose trust in the healthcare system or specific medical professionals, impacting their willingness to seek medical care in the future.
Why Pursue a Personal Injury Claim?
- Financial Compensation: Medical negligence for pregnancy or gynaecological losses can result in substantial medical expenses, ongoing costs, and loss of income. A personal injury claim can help you secure the financial compensation needed to cover these expenses and ensure a stable future.
- Rehabilitation and Support: Recovering often requires extensive rehabilitation and ongoing support. A successful personal injury claim can provide the resources necessary for specialised treatments, therapy, and assistance to enhance your recovery process.
- Holding Responsible Parties Accountable: By pursuing a personal injury claim, you not only seek compensation but also hold those responsible for the negligence accountable. The claim can also help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
- Quality of Life Improvements: Compensation from a personal injury claim can enable you to access the best available medical care, support services, and medical technologies.
A compensation can cover
- Loss of earnings and pension arising due to the negligence
- Costs of treatment, therapies and equipment
- Ongoing care costs
- Lifestyle changes to accommodate any condition
- Physical and psychological conditions arising from negligence
Compensation Routes
We offer a free initial consultation to evaluate your case and discuss your legal options. Let us help you hold those responsible accountable for their actions. Our solicitors understand the complex and long-lasting challenges posed by injury that was not your fault. Your well-being is our priority, and we are committed to providing you with the legal representation you need during this challenging time
There are time scales and you should contact us as soon as possible to investigate an action for you
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We are here to provide not only expert legal guidance but also an understanding of the physical, emotional, and financial challenges you face. Together, we will work towards securing compensation you deserve.
