Suppose an anesthesiologist gave you medication you had a known allergy to, didn’t give you enough anesthetic, or made some other mistake that hurt you. In that case, you may be able to pursue compensation for medical malpractice.
A personal injury lawyer with extensive experience in medical malpractice cases can help you seek justice for your injuries. Nagel Rice LLP has handled medical malpractice lawsuits for over 40 years, and we have collected more than one billion dollars for our clients. We practice law in New York and New Jersey and have considerable experience with malpractice law in both states. We proudly stand up for people like you and help them hold negligent medical practitioners accountable.
Anesthesiologist Malpractice
Medical malpractice is any act or failure that deviates from the norms of medical treatment and causes an injury. Like any other medical professional, an anesthesiologist commits malpractice when they don’t do something required by the usual standard of care or do something that goes against the usual standard of care.
For instance, if an anesthesiologist fails to do anything when an alarm regarding anesthesia administration goes off, applies too little anesthetic, or gives the patient a medication the patient is known to be allergic to, the anesthesiologist has committed medical malpractice. If you were injured due to anesthesiologist malpractice, you have the right to seek compensation.
Statute of Limitations
In New York, the statute of limitations gives you two years and six months to file a medical malpractice case. In New Jersey, you have two years. It’s essential to be aware of the statute of limitations because the court will throw out your case if you file it after the time is up. However, there are some exceptions. If you were a minor when the injury occurred, or if you didn’t discover the injury right away, you may have more time. Talk to your malpractice lawyer about how the statute of limitations may affect your case.
After filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in New Jersey, you have at least 60 days to file an affidavit from a medical expert. The expert needs to state that there is a reasonable probability your injuries were caused by improper medical care. This affidavit is known as an “affidavit of merit.” Your malpractice lawyer is the best person to find a qualified medical expert to provide the necessary affidavit.
Types of Negligence
There are many different ways an anesthesiologist can be negligent, including:
- Failure to monitor the patient during surgery
- Failure to monitor the equipment during surgery
- Over-sedation or under-sedation
- Failure to administer oxygen properly
- Giving improper medication
- Failure to respond to alarms
- Failure to notice signs of distress
- Disregarding patient allergies
- Failure to intubate the patient
- Injuring the patient by intubating improperly
- Administering anesthesia while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Doctors and anesthesiologists often make mistakes when they are rushing or otherwise distracted. An anesthesiologist who doesn’t take the time to read all the notes about the patient can administer a medication the patient is allergic to or that will keep their anesthesia from working correctly. The consequences for the patient can be tragic.
Common Injuries from Anesthesiologist Malpractice
Too much anesthesia can cause a heart attack, a coma, or death. Too little anesthesia can make it possible for the patient to wake up during surgery, a painful and traumatic experience. However, these are only two things that can go wrong due to anesthesiologist malpractice.
Common injuries from anesthesiologist malpractice include:
- Asphyxia, or lack of oxygen
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Traumatic brain injury
- Birth defects
- Spinal cord injuries
- Damage to the trachea
- Coma
Pursuing Compensation
What types of compensation can you pursue in an anesthesiologist malpractice case? You can seek money for:
- Your medical expenses, both past and future
- Nursing care
- Rehabilitation
- Any lost wages or other lost income
- Disability or disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Impairment
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If you lose a loved one due to anesthesiologist malpractice, you can pursue a wrongful death case.
Contact Our New Jersey Anesthesiologist Malpractice Lawyers
If you were injured by the negligence of an anesthesiologist, you need the help of an experienced malpractice lawyer to pursue fair compensation. Nagel Rice LLP is a New Jersey medical malpractice law firm. Our firm has argued 15 cases in front of the New Jersey Supreme Court, helping to shape medical malpractice law in this state. Contact Nagel Rice LLP today.
Nagel Rice LLP helps its clients throughout New Jersey, including Roseland, Bergen County, Essex County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Morris County, Passaic County, and Sussex County. We also represent clients in New York throughout Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.