Anesthesia Error Claims

Understanding malpractice claims involving anesthesia mistakes

Anesthesia errors are less common than some other categories of malpractice, but when they happen, the consequences can be severe. These cases involve a distinct set of standards and considerations.

• Dosing errors -- administering too much or too little anesthesia for the patient's size, condition, or procedure
• Failure to properly review a patient's medical history for anesthesia-related risk factors or allergies
• Inadequate monitoring of vital signs during a procedure, allowing a complication to go undetected
• Delayed response to signs of distress during or after anesthesia administration
• Improper airway management during sedation or general anesthesia

Anesthesia error cases typically require detailed review of monitoring records and expert testimony from an anesthesiologist familiar with the applicable standard of care, since these situations often unfold quickly and involve highly specialized medical judgment.

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