Surgeries and other invasive procedures require the use of anesthesia. Certain Illinois doctors spend time being educated on how these medications work, how much to use and other considerations. However, despite their education and experience, anesthesiologists are still human and can make mistakes. Hospital negligence claims can be made against the party or parties responsible for those errors.
Like any other doctor, an anesthesiologist needs to review a patient’s medical history before administering any medication in preparation for surgery. Failure to take an accurate history could cause a serious or fatal reaction to the anesthesia. The dosages given to put the person under and to bring him or her back need to be calculated carefully.
Furthermore, patients need to be constantly monitored while under anesthesia. A person’s heart rate, breathing and temperature, among other bodily functions, need to be monitored for any changes that could signal a problem. Should a problem arise, the surgical staff will need to act quickly in order to save the patient from suffering an injury, such as brain damage, or, in the worst case, death. If an anesthesiologist makes an error at any point during this process, it could be catastrophic for the patient.
If you or a family member suffered an injury at the hands of an anesthesiologist, seeking the advice and assistance of an attorney as soon as possible is essential. Getting access to the evidence needed to prove negligence could be more difficult as time passes. Your case will need to be thoroughly reviewed and prepared prior to a hospital negligence claim being filed with an Illinois court. Successfully proving that the care given to you or your loved one was not up to current medical standards could result in the award of monetary damages.