Date: June 23, 2011By: Atlanta Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Designed to alleviate pain during an operation, anesthesia, when administered improperly, can result in serious harm to the patient. Although anesthesia is widely used to put patients in an unconscious or semi-conscious state to improve comfort during an operation, errors made by anesthesiologists and other professionals can have serious consequences, including death. Negligence by anesthesiologists is a serious form of medical malpractice because it can lead to lasting and debilitating complications for the patient.

To prevent anesthesia errors, anesthesiologists must take a careful look at the medical charts and history of a patient before administering anesthesia to make sure that the patient does not have any pre-existing medical conditions that will react negatively with anesthesia. There are many ways in which an anesthesia error can develop including the following: measuring the wrong dosage of the drug; selecting the wrong drug; administering the drug to an allergic patient; failing to monitor vital signs; failing to act upon changes in vital signs; administering anesthesia too late; or failing to use the machines incorrectly. When a medical professional acts negligently in administering anesthesia or monitoring an anesthesia patient, he or she may be liable for any negative consequences that occur. Anesthesia errors can lead to significant suffering, serious health complications, and even death.

Patients who wake up during surgery are said to be experiencing anesthesia awareness. Many of these patients report being able to hear or see interactions around the room, being able to feel the pain of the actual surgery, or having the sensation that they are unable to breathe. These incidences can lead to brain damage, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleeping problems, as well as physical disabilities.

If you or a loved one was injured due to an anesthesia error, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Medical malpractice is a serious offense, and it is important to acquire the experienced legal representation to hold medical professionals accountable for their actions. Contact an experienced Atlanta anesthesia error attorney to learn more about your rights and to pursue possible legal recourse.

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Keywords: Atlanta anesthesia errors, Atlanta medical malpractice, Atlanta medical negligence lawyers, anesthesiologists