Anesthesia is supposed to carry a patient safely through surgery and return them to consciousness when it is over. When errors occur during administration or monitoring carelessly, that same anesthesia can cause catastrophic harm. The margin for error is thin, and the consequences of getting it wrong can be permanent.
If you suffered injuries from an anesthesia error in Tacoma, Washington, you may have the right to pursue a medical malpractice claim in Tacoma against the providers involved in your care. The Tacoma anesthesia error attorneys at Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer are here to help you seek full compensation for the harm you have endured. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.
Why Choose Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer for My Anesthesia Error Case?
Anesthesia malpractice claims are not easy. You need a firm that understands where anesthesia errors occur, how providers are supposed to respond, and what it takes to prove that they failed. Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer is the firm for you.
Patients in Tacoma, WA, choose our firm because:
- Our firm has spent decades representing patients and families harmed by preventable medical errors.
- We have secured more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for injured clients throughout Washington.
- We collaborate with highly qualified physicians, anesthesiologists, and other medical specialists to thoroughly evaluate Tacoma malpractice claims.
- Our attorneys have received recognition from numerous respected legal organizations for excellence in advocacy and client service.
- We represent medical malpractice victims on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Call today to schedule a free case review with a Tacoma anesthesia error attorney who can help when you need it most.
Is an Attorney Necessary for an Anesthesia Malpractice Case in Washington?
These cases often come down to the minute-by-minute record of a patient’s vital signs and how the anesthesia provider responded as those numbers changed during surgery. Interpreting that data and challenging well-funded insurers is not something most people can do on their own.
An experienced medical malpractice lawyer in Tacoma levels the playing field. Your attorney can build your claim by:
- Determining whether abnormal vital signs during surgery were missed or inadequately addressed
- Analyzing anesthesia charts, operative reports, and monitoring data
- Working with independent anesthesiologists to assess whether proper protocols were followed
- Reviewing the pre-anesthesia evaluation to determine whether the patient was properly assessed
- Tracing how the anesthesia error contributed to your injuries
- Calculating the full scope of your losses under Washington law
Call our legal team today to learn more about how we can help you seek accountability for your injuries.
What Is Anesthesia Malpractice?
In Washington, anesthesia may be administered by anesthesiologists or by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). Both are held to the same professional standard of care when treating patients. Anesthesia malpractice generally falls into two categories: (1) errors that occur before surgery and (2) errors that occur during surgery.
Negligence Before Surgery
Before administering anesthesia, the provider must complete a thorough pre-anesthesia evaluation. The purpose is to confirm that the patient can safely undergo anesthesia and surgery.
- This evaluation should account for:
- The patient’s medical history
- Current medications
- Prior surgical history
- Physical examination findings
- Lab results, imaging, and EKG findings
If the evaluation shows that a patient is not stable enough for surgery, the provider may need to postpone or cancel the procedure. A failure at this stage can dramatically raise the risk of severe bleeding or other complications.
Negligence During Surgery
Once anesthesia is administered, the provider takes responsibility for keeping the patient’s vital functions stable. Throughout the procedure, the anesthesia provider must continuously monitor the patient’s:
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate
- Oxygen saturation
- Respiratory status
- Blood loss and fluid balance
The provider must respond immediately to complications, whether by administering IV fluids, adjusting medications, increasing oxygen, or taking other action. A delayed response can trigger a life-threatening emergency.
Injuries and Conditions Associated With Anesthesia Errors
When an anesthesia provider fails to properly evaluate or monitor a patient, the resulting injuries can be catastrophic and permanent. Common consequences of anesthesia malpractice include:
- Brain damage from oxygen deprivation
- Stroke and other cardiovascular complications during surgery
- Severe hemorrhage from undetected bleeding risks
- Organ failure caused by prolonged low blood pressure
- Nerve injuries from improper positioning or monitoring
- Death from anesthesia-related complications
In many cases, these outcomes were entirely preventable and trace back to a delayed intervention or an ignored warning sign.
What Is My Washington Anesthesia Malpractice Case Worth in Tacoma, WA?
If an anesthesia error harmed you, you may be entitled to significant compensation. An anesthesia malpractice claim may include damages for:
- Costs associated with medical treatment and additional corrective care
- Anticipated expenses for future healthcare needs
- Income lost while unable to work following the injury
- Diminished earning potential resulting from lasting physical limitations
- Physical discomfort, chronic pain, and loss of bodily function
- Psychological and emotional impacts
- Long-term impairments
In tragic cases involving wrongful death, surviving family members of the patient may be entitled to money for funeral expenses, lost companionship, and lost support.
An experienced Tacoma anesthesia malpractice attorney can assess your condition and identify every category of damages you are owed. Our team works with medical and financial experts to project the full long-term cost of your injury so that no loss goes unaccounted for.
Call a Tacoma Anesthesia Error Lawyer Today
Patients trust anesthesia providers to guide them safely through surgery. If that didn’t happen in your case, you deserve accountability.
Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer has decades and decades of experience handling complex medical malpractice cases. We’ve recovered over $1 billion for clients like yourself, and we’re ready to step in and fight for justice.
Let us help you pursue the compensation you need for quality medical care and the road ahead. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an anesthesia error attorney in Tacoma, WA. We are here for you.