Anesthesia Awareness Malpractice
Every year, millions of people rely on medical professionals to provide them with care and treatment meant to improve their health. When a medical error occurs, consequences can be catastrophic, especially if it occurs during surgery. Unfortunately, medical errors happen more frequently than most people realize.
Anesthesia errors are a leading type of medical malpractice, which is defined as the failure of a medical professional to meet the expected standard of care. An anesthesia error can result in anesthesia awareness, where the patient remains aware during treatment. Victims of anesthesia awareness and medical malpractice in the Brooklyn, NY, area can work with the attorneys at Zucker & Regev, P.C. to seek compensation for damages.
Understanding Anesthesia Awareness
General anesthesia is intended to make a patient unconscious while they undergo a surgical procedure so that they can receive treatment free of pain or emotional trauma. Anesthesia is administered and monitored by medical specialists to prevent injury or other complications. Unfortunately, errors still occur and they can result in anesthesia awareness.
When a patient experiences anesthesia awareness, they remain conscious during treatment, or become conscious at some point during the procedure. The degree of consciousness may vary in each case. While one person may completely wake up during treatment, others may be just conscious enough that they are aware of what is happening and retain sensations, but are unable to alert medical staff. Anesthesia awareness is a terrifying and painful condition for those who experience it.
Causes of Anesthesia Awareness
It is important to note that anesthesia awareness is always the result of some type of medical error. There are no medical or biological conditions that make a person more susceptible to anesthesia awareness. Potential causes of anesthesia awareness include:
- Failure to use an adequate amount of anesthesia
- Using the wrong type of anesthesia
- Failure to properly monitor the patient throughout treatment
Long-term Damages of Anesthesia Awareness
Proving any type of medical malpractice can be difficult, but cases involving anesthesia awareness are particularly complex. That is why it is so important that victims of anesthesia awareness work with an attorney who understands this condition and its implications, such as those at Zucker & Regev, P.C.
Legally, to show that there are grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit, we must show that our Brooklyn clients received substandard medical care, and that it resulted in further injury and losses. However, in most cases, even if a patient experiences anesthesia awareness, treatment proceeds, and the surgery can be a success. With a positive surgical outcome, it can be tricky to show that the patient suffered as a result.
Our attorneys will work to gather any evidence necessary to show the damages of anesthesia awareness. The pain and emotional trauma of anesthesia awareness can be devastating. Furthermore, there are long-term damages to consider. Anesthesia awareness can result in complications such as:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Anxiety
- Difficulty sleeping
- Frequent nightmares
Schedule a Consultation
At Zucker & Regev, P.C. our attorneys will demonstrate the short and long-term damages of anesthesia awareness as we fight for maximum financial compensation for our clients. If you are a victim of anesthesia awareness and medical malpractice and want to learn more about your legal rights, call (718) 624-1211 to schedule a consultation at our Brooklyn practice.