Anesthesiologists (physicians who complete an accredited residency program in anesthesiology) and anesthetists (nurses who are board certified in anesthesia and may work under the supervision of a physician) administer anesthesia to the patients and have responsibility for the safety of the patients before, during, and after the surgery.
In addition to providing pain relief for patients, Anesthesiologists and anesthetists have control over the patient's life functions including the heart rate and breathing. Most people believe after a successful surgery has concluded that the patient is out of danger; however, many times complications after surgery occur and anesthesia errors are sometimes the cause. An anesthesia error can result in permanent and severe injuries, including brain damage, coma, and death.
We have seen a number of cases in which patients suffered severe injuries or died as a result of anesthesia problems. Very often the anesthetists were poorly trained or were not anesthesiologists. Many hospitals and medical clinics use certified register nurse anesthetists who may be able to handle most anesthesia situations, but not all circumstances, including unique situations or severe emergencies. In situations like this, catastrophic results can happen to the unfortunate patient.
Many patients will seek multiple opinions, including interviewing multiple doctors; however, rarely does a patient ever meet or interview their anesthesiologist. Most people think about anesthesia being used in hospitals for a major operation, but rarely ever give thought to anesthesia routinely being used in medical clinics, cosmetic clinics, and of course dental offices. Patients in medical facilities outside of hospitals are often at a greater risk for anesthesia injuries because these medical facilities often do not use anesthesiologists and do not have access to specialized nurses and doctors during an emergency. For example, anesthesia malpractice is often linked to gastric bypass surgery and cosmetic surgery. If an emergency like this happens in a medical clinic or a dentist office, the medical professionals will likely have to call an ambulance, and the precious minutes a patient is kept waiting can cause severe and permanent brain injuries or death.
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury due to an anesthesia error or other form of negligence, you may have a medical malpractice or negligence claim. Anesthesia malpractice attorneys such as Dr. Bruce G. Fagel, can help a patient determine if he or she was the victim of medical negligence or medical malpractice.