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When to File an Anesthesia Error Medical Malpractice Lawsuit (Part A)

Many patients expect and accept postoperative discomfort, not knowing that at times it can be the result of an anesthesia error. When temporary states such as mental confusion, difficulty talking or deep muscle or joint pain continue past a reasonable period of time, mismanaged anesthesia may be the cause.

Administration of sedatives can be ruled out if patients possess certain risk factors in their medical histories or current behaviors. For instance, smoking and drinking alcohol habitually can raise the risk of developing respiratory or liver problems after being exposed to anesthesia drugs. Food or drug allergies may indicate a greater likelihood of anesthesia allergies.

Patients whose health is compromised due to heart, lung or kidney disease, or who have family members who have had allergic reactions while under sedation are more susceptible to harm from anesthesia. Health care providers should extract this information from patients in order to make good judgment calls on dosages and whether a patient is up to the stress of surgery in the first place.

If a patient's health is generally good and the patient is not of an advanced age, a good outcome from anesthesia sedation should be anticipated. In the event of a poor outcome with lingering symptoms, a medical malpractice attorney should be consulted for advice. Patients should approach legal counsel to determine whether they have a viable case.

Which Type of Anesthesia Was Used?

If local anesthesia was used to numb a body part during surgery, errors in high dosage can produce systemic toxicity. Breathing, heart rate and blood pressure may need emergency stabilization. Long-term side effects are rare, and malpractice cases involving local anesthesia injuries are unusual.

Regional anesthesia, such as that used in cesarean section operations, also carries a tiny percentage of risk due to errors. However, injection of regional sedatives involves the nerves or spinal cord, which can produce ongoing pain, weakness and numb spots in patients.

General anesthesia, which renders a patient unconscious, carries more risk than other methods of sedation, with possible complications including heart attack, stroke and death. Less severe, but debilitating mental and physical symptoms include panic attacks, inability to concentrate, heart, lung or liver damage.

If you or your loved one has suffered complications due to anesthesia in Massachusetts you should contact a Boston personal injury attorney immediately to learn about your rights and determine liability. Massachusetts has a statute of limitations that may prohibit you from filing a lawsuit if too much time has passed. Contact The Law Office of Thomas M. Kiley for guidance on your personal injury case.

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Massachusetts personal injury lawyer, Thomas M. Kiley, is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and is a respected member of the American Association for Justice and the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys.

The personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of Kiley Law Group are dedicated to helping the victims of:

• Car, motorcycle, truck, van or bus accident
• Single vehicle accidents such as SUV or 15-passenger van rollovers
• Pedestrian accidents such as a hit and run
• Defective products such as ineffective airbags or seatbelts, prescription drugs with unpublicized side-effects, or hazardous children's toys
• Child injury and child abuse such as negligence
• Birth injuries such as trauma during labor or cerebral palsy

We Serve Clients Across the State of Massachusetts
The firm's headquarters are in Andover, MA and serves the following cities in Massachusetts: Boston, Danvers, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Methuen, Middleton, Reading, and Salem, MA and Salem, New Hampshire.