Hospitals and medical facilities frequently use anesthesia during procedures to reduce or eliminate pain. In fact, many procedures are impossible without anesthesia. However, there are risks that come with its use—especially in the hands of negligent medical professionals.
You could be entitled to monetary damages when you suffer from an avoidable injury or illness due to anesthesia errors. However, recovering the comprehensive compensation you deserve is often difficult without the guidance of a skilled medical malpractice attorney. Consider discussing your options with a Toledo anesthesia errors lawyer at Zoll & Kranz, LLC, before acting on your own.
Potential Anesthesia Errors
Anesthesia errors come in different forms. Unfortunately, these mistakes can also result in a wide range of serious medical issues. When medical negligence results in these errors, consulting with an experienced Toledo anesthesia errors attorney is crucial.
Wrong Dosage
Too much or too little anesthesia can be dangerous. In addition to medical complications, it can also result in a patient waking up while a procedure is underway.
Failure to Identify Drug Interactions
As with any medication, anesthesia can interact with other drugs in unusual or dangerous ways. Most of these interactions are well-documented, and it is up to the medical professionals involved to avoid them. The failure to carefully evaluate a patient’s records to identify any potentially harmful interactions is an act of medical malpractice.
Lack of Instruction
Part of the responsibility of the medical professional is to provide the patient with clear guidance on how to prepare for a procedure under anesthesia. Specifically, this involves warning the patient to limit food or liquid intake in the hours leading up to the operation. Failure to provide this instruction could result in dangerous consequences.
Failure to Monitor
Anesthesia is not something that can be administered and then forgotten about. Medical professionals must monitor their patients under anesthesia for signs of any adverse complications. The failure to do so is negligent.
The Deadline to File Suit
As with all injury claims, anesthesia error cases are governed by the state’s statute of limitations. The statute of limitations acts as a firm legal deadline, and failure to comply with it could put a victim’s financial recovery at risk.
Typically, the statute of limitations in Ohio expires one year from the date that the act of malpractice “accrues.” While this is usually the date of the error, it is worth noting that some plaintiffs have more time to file a lawsuit.
Some injuries from anesthesia errors are not immediately apparent. In these cases, a plaintiff has one year from the discovery of their injury to take legal action. However, the window of time to file a lawsuit cannot extend beyond four years. The courts typically are required to dismiss a case with prejudice if it is filed after the legal deadline expires.
Complying with the statute of limitations is one of the most important steps in a successful anesthesia injury case. A proactive anesthesia errors lawyer in Toledo could ensure that a plaintiff complies with this strict deadline and avoids losing their right to seek compensation.
Call Our Toledo Anesthesia Errors Attorney Immediately
If you are considering legal action due to anesthesia errors, now is the time to speak with an attorney. Seasoned legal counsel could advise you on the strength of your case while also guiding you through the litigation process. Reach out to a Toledo anesthesia errors lawyer at Zoll & Kranz, LLC right away to learn more.