Anesthesia Error Malpractice Lawyer Near You in New Jersey
When you undergo a procedure or surgery that requires anesthesia, you’re putting your life in someone else’s hands. When anesthesia is improperly administered or other errors occur, the consequences can be catastrophic.
At Sarno da Costa D’Aniello Maceri Webb LLC, our medical malpractice lawyers help you understand the complex medical and legal issues involved in these cases and pursue the compensation you need and deserve. Led by Paul M. da Costa, our compassionate, tenacious anesthesia error lawyers have obtained substantial medical malpractice settlements and verdicts for injured victims throughout New Jersey.
What Is Anesthesia Malpractice in New Jersey?
Anesthesia malpractice occurs when an anesthesiologist, nurse anesthetist, or other medical professional fails to meet the standard of care, including when anesthesia is used in a surgical procedure, with the three common types being local, regional, and general. Medical professionals who disregard standards of care while administering anesthesia and monitoring a patient put patients at risk because anesthesia can cause temporary amnesia and loss of responsiveness, making careful administration and monitoring essential, and they are legally liable for any injury or death that results from their actions. Anesthesiologists must obtain informed consent from patients before administering anesthesia. Anesthesia errors can happen before, during, or after medical procedures and often occur due to negligence, poor communication, or inadequate training.
Common Types of Anesthesia Errors in New Jersey Cases
Anesthesia is used to regulate a patient’s breathing and consciousness, and the type of anesthesia used in a case can affect the risks involved, with general anesthesia being especially dangerous because the patient is fully unconscious. Anesthesia errors occur when anesthesia is administered or monitored during a surgical procedure or other medical procedure, often because of preventable mistakes as well as patient-specific risks. Common anesthesia errors include:
- Dosage errors – Administering too much or too little anesthesia can have serious effects, including brain damage, coma, death, or a patient waking up during surgery, which can be traumatizing.
- Failing to monitor vital signs – A patient’s heart rate, oxygen levels, blood pressure, and other vital signs must be closely monitored so the patient is monitored properly during and after a medical procedure. Failure to detect changes can lead to serious complications or death.
- Delayed delivery – When anesthesia isn’t administered quickly enough, a patient may experience pain or panic during a medical procedure.
- Drug allergies and interactions – If an anesthesiologist fails to thoroughly review a patient’s medical history before surgery, they may give them a drug that causes a serious allergic response or adverse drug interaction.
- Improper intubation – Intubation keeps a patient’s airway open to ensure they can breathe during surgery. Improper intubation can lead to oxygen deprivation, aspiration, or vocal cord damage.
- Post-operative negligence – The effects of anesthesia can continue after surgery. Improper post-operative care and monitoring can result in serious complications, such as respiratory depression.
- Inadequate pre- and post-op instructions – Failing to properly inform patients about food, alcohol, and drug restrictions before and after a procedure can result in vomiting, aspiration, and drug interactions.
Other common causes of anesthesia errors, often in the operating room, include defective equipment, patients falling off the table while under sedation, and errors in judgment. Our anesthesia error lawyers have successfully litigated cases involving all types of circumstances.
Consequences of Anesthesia Errors
Patients often underestimate the significant risks of anesthetic complications, and these are some of the common injuries caused by anesthesia errors:
- Brain injury from oxygen deprivation
- Cardiac arrest
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Coma
- Nerve damage
- Ulnar neuropathy
- Collapsed lung
- Temporary mental confusion
- Waking up during surgery (anesthesia awareness)
- Death
Anesthesiologists must be highly trained and pay much higher medical insurance premiums than most other medical specialists. Although anesthesia malpractice and surgical errors are rare, anesthesia awareness occurs infrequently but can be deeply traumatic, and many patients who experience it may develop post traumatic stress disorder. Dosage mistakes can lead to catastrophic harm, even death, and the physical, emotional, and financial consequences can be devastating for victims of anesthesia and their family members. Our anesthesia malpractice attorneys are dedicated to holding negligent medical professionals accountable and helping you pursue the damages you need to move forward after an injury or wrongful death.
Building a Compelling Case for Anesthesia Malpractice in New Jersey
It’s important to keep in mind that medical malpractice lawsuits are not appropriate for every type of medical complication. Because of the risks involved in surgery, complications can arise even when a doctor follows safety protocols precisely. A successful anesthesia malpractice claim must prove negligence by showing that the anesthesiologist or another medical professional committed malpractice or medical negligence, failed to meet the standard of care, and caused a patient’s injury or death as a result. That is why prompt legal review matters when pursuing an anesthesia error claim.
These complex cases require in-depth investigation and extensive legal and medical knowledge. Our medical malpractice lawyers work closely with medical experts who review your medical records, identify any errors, and determine whether an anesthesiologist breached the standard of care or whether anesthesiologist’s negligence caused the harm. We put all the elements of your case together and build compelling arguments to demonstrate that anesthesia malpractice occurred and prove negligence in an anesthesia error case. Our anesthesia malpractice attorneys fight to help you recover compensation for damages such as:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Disability or disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Wrongful death
Hospitals, health systems, a healthcare facility, or another medical facility and their insurers use all kinds of tactics to deny responsibility and minimize payouts. Our anesthesia error attorneys know how to counter these tactics and negotiate aggressively on your behalf. Paul and his team take malpractice cases on a contingency fee basis, which means we don’t get paid unless we win your case.
Why Choose Our Anesthesia Error Lawyers Near You?
At Sarno da Costa D’Aniello Maceri Webb LLC, we understand how overwhelming it can be to deal with the repercussions of an anesthesia error. As lead trial counsel for the department and a Certified Civil Trial Attorney, Paul approaches each case with integrity, compassion, and dedication, backed by the firm’s extensive experience handling complex medical malpractice cases. Paul and his team have earned a solid reputation with our clients and the New Jersey legal community, including clients seeking experienced legal representation in anesthesia malpractice matters.
Paul is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, which are both invitation-only membership trial attorney associations. Paul and his team have been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® as a Tier 1 Medical Malpractice – Plaintiffs law firm in New Jersey for 2022 and 2024, placing the firm among respected New Jersey law firms with a long history of advocating for injured clients. The National Law Journal selected Paul M. da Costa and his Medical Practice Department as recipients of its prestigious 2022 Elite Trial Lawyers Awards in the medical malpractice category.
Sarno da Costa D’Aniello Maceri Webb LLC was selected by their peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers® in the fields of Arbitration, Family Law, Family Law Mediation, Mediation, Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs.
Paul and his legal team are committed to helping you get through difficult times and obtaining the compensation you need to protect your health and financial security.
Contact Medical Malpractice Attorneys Near You in New Jersey
If you or a loved one has been harmed as victims of anesthesia malpractice due to an anesthesia error, our anesthesia malpractice lawyers at Sarno da Costa D’Aniello Maceri Webb LLC are here to help. Contact us or call 973-609-5269 to schedule a free consultation and free case evaluation with Paul M. da Costa, a medical malpractice attorney, today. Our medical malpractice lawyers serve clients in several convenient locations near you in New Jersey, including Roseland, Bridgewater, Hackensack, Morristown, and Eatontown, NJ.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anesthesia Malpractice Cases
How long do I have to file an anesthesia malpractice claim in New Jersey?
Generally, you have two years from the date of the injury or from the date you discovered or should have discovered your injury. However, there are exceptions to this rule, and those deadlines can affect any anesthesiologist malpractice claim. Our anesthesia error lawyers can determine how the medical malpractice statute of limitations in New Jersey may affect your case.
How much is my case worth in New Jersey?
The value of an anesthesia error case depends on the severity of your injuries, the cost of medical care, lost income, and the impact your injury has had on your life. Catastrophic injuries can also increase value because they often involve long-term care needs and greater financial and personal losses. Our anesthesia error attorneys work closely with financial and medical professionals to accurately value your claim.
Will I have to go to court in New Jersey?
It depends. Although most personal injury cases are settled out of court, if a reasonable settlement isn’t offered by the insurance company, we’ll prepare your case for trial and pursue the full and fair amount of compensation you deserve in these complex medical malpractice cases.
