Were you hurt because an anesthesiologist in Tampa, FL, made a mistake? You may be entitled to file a lawsuit to recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. An experienced Tampa anesthesia injury lawyer at Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers can help you fight to recover the maximum compensation you deserve.
Since 1992, our attorneys and staff have fought to protect victims of medical errors in the Tampa Bay area. We’ve recovered more than $500 million for our clients. We’re well-prepared to fight for you.
Would you like to have an attorney evaluate your case? Contact our Tampa, Florida office or call us at (813) 222-8656 to schedule a free consultation today.
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How Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers Can Help After an Anesthesia Injury in Tampa
Anesthesiologist, Anesthesiologist Assistants, and Nurse Anesthetist are highly trained medical professionals that administer anesthesia to patients before and during surgery. Their work is high-stakes as it prevents patients from feeling pain during an operation. However, sometimes these professionals make mistakes and injure patients. When they do, the results can be serious—even fatal.
If you suffered an anesthesia injury, a Tampa medical malpractice attorney can help you recover compensation for your harms.
Catania and Catania, P.A. has been helping victims of medical malpractice for almost 30 years. We’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients, which has earned us recognition as an “AV Preeminent” law firm. Martindale-Hubbell also recognized us as “Client Champions” in 2020.
When you hire our Tampa medical malpractice lawyers, you can expect us to:
- Offer award-winning legal support at every stage of your case
- Investigate the circumstances of your injury to gather evidence and identify liable parties
- Calculate all your damages with the help of leading medical experts
- Negotiate with medical providers and malpractice insurers for a fair settlement
- Take the responsible parties to trial to get the compensation you deserve, if necessary
Anesthesia injuries are a complex category of medical malpractice claims. You deserve top-notch legal representation as you pursue money for your injuries.
Call Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation.
Overview of Anesthesia Injuries
Anesthesia is a drug that is administered during surgery to keep the body from feeling pain. When administered properly, patients wake up without any memory of the procedure.
The anesthesiologist is responsible for determining the correct dosage and type of anesthesia based on the patient’s:
- Age
- General health and medical history
- Known risk factors
- Body composition
- Type of surgical procedure
The anesthesiologist is also responsible for:
- Ensuring adequate blood flow to the patient’s brain during surgery
- Monitoring the patient’s vitals during the procedure to identify adverse reactions
- Making sure the patient doesn’t wake up during surgery
Anesthesia is generally safe for patients. However, a simple error can have devastating consequences.
How Common Are Anesthesia Injuries?
A study by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) found that up to 400,000 preventable deaths happen because of medical errors every year in the U.S.
Over 17,115 anesthesia errors were reported in the United States between 2007 and 2014. Over 130 victims of anesthesia errors suffered fatal injuries during that time frame. In 2019, at least 123 medical malpractice claims were filed against nurse anesthetists for preventable anesthesia injuries.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Anesthesia Injuries?
Most side effects of anesthesia go away quickly after surgery. However, some symptoms can be signs of a serious injury, especially if you have certain risk factors or a history of adverse anesthesia reactions.
Some common side effects of general anesthesia include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Sore throat
- Chills and shivering
- Itching
- Bladder problems
- Confusion and memory loss
Most of these side effects are temporary. However, if you continue to suffer for a prolonged period, it’s important to seek medical attention. You should also let your doctor know about any side effects you’re experiencing so that you can be properly evaluated.
What are the Long-Term Consequences of Anesthesia Injuries?
Medical errors can lead to a number of long-term injuries and consequences.
Victims of anesthesia may suffer:
- Brain damage due to oxygen deprivation
- Malignant hypothermia
- Seizures
- Long-term memory problems
- Stroke
- Heart attacks
- Organ failure
- Nerve damage
- Coma
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Wrongful death
Some of these consequences cause permanent damage. You may be facing a series of painful medical treatments as you recover.
What Causes Most Anesthesia Injuries?
Anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists undergo extensive training before they’re allowed to practice medicine. Despite this, mistakes can happen for any number of reasons. Usually, anesthesia injuries are caused by human error.
Some of the leading causes of anesthesia injuries include:
- Failure to take a full patient medical history
- Failure to consider harmful drug interactions
- Administering too much anesthesia
- Administering too little anesthesia, leading to “anesthesia awareness”
- Improperly intubating a patient
- Failure to provide proper post-operative instructions
- Failure to monitor a patient during and after a procedure
- Failure to consider potential allergic reactions
- Communication failures between medical professionals
- Lack of experience
As the patient, you might not know how or why you were injured. Even the most respected health care provider may be reluctant to come forward and admit fault. Our Tampa medical malpractice attorneys can help you find out what caused your injury–and who was responsible.
What is My Tampa Anesthesia Injury Case Worth?
Anesthesia injuries can leave you struggling with painful physical injuries and emotional damage. Some victims never fully recover.
Don’t make the mistake of accepting less compensation than you deserve. Consulting an experienced attorney is the best way to find out what your case is worth. However, the following factors tend to be relevant:
- The nature and permanence of your injuries
- The cost of your past and future medical treatment
- The emotional trauma you’ve suffered and its impact on your life
- How the injury has changed your daily life
- Whether you’ll return to work at the same earning capacity
Doctors and hospitals are required to carry medical malpractice insurance. When you file an injury claim, you’ll be dealing with an insurance company. The hospital’s insurance carrier will cover claims against hospital employees–usually nurses, technicians, and other staff members. Anesthesiologists are often independent contractors with their own insurance policies.
Insurance companies often go to great lengths to minimize the severity of your injury. Our lawyers are here to help you fight back and hold the responsible parties fully accountable for your suffering.
What Compensation Can I Recover for My Anesthesia Injuries in Tampa, Florida?
Anesthesia injury victims may be entitled to a wide range of damages under Florida medical malpractice laws. Your compensation award should account for your economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are those that are easy to quantify in terms of dollar value, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages and income
- Anticipated future medical bills
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Rehabilitation, surgeries, and medications
Non-economic damages are more difficult to value but can make up a sizeable portion of your settlement. Examples include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- PTSD
- Depression and anxiety
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
If your loved one died because of a fatal anesthesia error, our team at Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers can help you file a claim for wrongful death.
How Do I Establish Liability in an Anesthesia Injury Case?
To recover compensation for anesthesia errors, the victim must prove that someone committed malpractice. Anesthesia malpractice is a type of medical negligence.
Unlike your typical car accident case, it isn’t enough to merely show that someone made a mistake. You’ll have to provide evidence to establish the following legal elements:
- A legal duty of care existed (such as a doctor-patient relationship)
- The responsible party breached that duty by deviating from the medical standard of care
- The breach caused your injuries
- The amount of damages you’ve suffered as a result
The medical standard of care can vary from case to case. Under Florida law, victims of medical malpractice are required to offer expert witness testimony about the medical standard of care. Generally, that standard of care varies based upon:
- The healthcare professional’s level of training (anesthesiologist, nurse anesthetist, etc.)
- The patient’s age, general health, and risk factors
- The type of surgical procedure involved
It’s also important to identify all parties who might be responsible for your injuries. In an anesthesia injury case, responsible parties may include:
- The anesthesiologist
- Certified registered nurse anesthesiologists (CRNAs)
- Other doctors, nurses, and medical team members
- Lab technicians
- Pharmacists
- The hospital or medical facility
Cases involving medical errors are always complicated. Our attorneys at Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers can help you with every aspect of your claim. We’ve been handling cases like yours for decades and are ready to put that experience to work for you. Just give us a quick call today to schedule a free case review.
How Long Do I Have to File an Anesthesia Injury Lawsuit in Florida?
Victims of medical malpractice typically have only two years to file a lawsuit for damages.
However, the two-year statute of limitations starts running when you discovered or reasonably should have discovered the injuries. That may or may not be the same date you were put under anesthesia.
If you suspect you have a valid medical malpractice case, our Tampa anesthesia error lawyers would be happy to evaluate your case. Call our law group to schedule your free case review today.
Contact a Tampa Anesthesia Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Are you suffering after an anesthesia injury in Tampa? You may be entitled to file a medical malpractice lawsuit for compensation.
Are you interested in learning more about how we use our proven track record of success to your advantage? Call a Tampa anesthesia injury lawyer at Catania and Catania Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
