New York Anesthesia & Surgical Malpractice Lawyers

Surgery and anesthesia can take a tremendous toll on someone, both physically and emotionally. When a preventable medical error causes even further pain or damage during a procedure, the effects can be catastrophic and life altering.

At the law firm of Salenger, Sack, Kimmel & Bavaro, LLP, our aggressive team of attorneys is committed to standing up for patients who have sustained injuries from medical negligence and errors. 

With over 35 years of experience successfully advocating in the best interests of our clients, we will fight back against the parties responsible for your injuries to seek the fair compensation you deserve.

If you were injured by a preventable medical error during surgery or while under anesthesia, call (800) 572-7246 or contact us online to discuss your case with an attorney in a free consultation.

Examples of Surgical Malpractice

Any preventable mistake made during surgery can be considered a surgical error. Before an operation can take place, a patient is typically asked to read the risks and agree to proceed. Surgical errors, however, are mistakes that fall outside of these agreed-upon risks and are not up to the standard of care medical professionals have sworn to provide.

Some examples of surgical errors include:

• Performing the wrong operation on the wrong patient
• Operating on the wrong body part
• Injuring a nerve during a procedure
• Performing an incision in the wrong location
• Leaving surgical tools and equipment inside of the body
• Administering too much medication or anesthesia

Delayed Symptoms of Surgical Malpractice

Not every surgical error results in an immediate and obvious consequence such as blood loss, puncture wounds, or death. Surgical mistakes that are made due to negligence or incompetence may not show signs that a problem exists until after the patient is in recovery and possibly even days, weeks, or longer after discharge.

Delayed symptoms of a surgical error may include:

• Fever
• Extremely sharp and intense pains near the surgical site
• Vomiting
• Burning feeling
• Abdominal pain
• Redness or soreness by surgical site
• Swelling by the surgical site or other parts of the body
• Unexplained pain or discomfort

When medical errors are made due to negligence, doctors and other staff involved may not treat a patient effectively if they are trying to cover up their mistakes. Our team at Salenger, Sack, Kimmel & Bavaro, LLP is committed to exposing harmful medical errors that cause you pain and suffering after a procedure. 

When you work with our firm, our New York surgical malpractice lawyers will look at your medical records and the log of what staff was present and interview witnesses to determine what steps were missed or what mistakes were hidden, in order to secure you the financial support you need to properly recover.

Anesthesia Malpractice: Know Your Rights

Anesthesia is an essential component of surgical procedures, as it ensures a pain-free experience for patients. However, anesthesia malpractice can be particularly deadly. It could lead to breathing difficulties, nerve damage, permanent brain damage, coma, and even death. 

Fortunately, patients who have suffered anesthesia malpractice can file a lawsuit to seek compensation for their injuries and losses. By doing so, you can seek compensation to help cover the cost of your damages, like medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering. Contact a New York anesthesia malpractice attorney today to discuss your options and get the compensation you deserve.

Types of Anesthesia

There are three different types of anesthesia that a patient can be given before a procedure:

• Local anesthesia: Numbs only the body part being operated on
• Regional anesthesia: Blocks pain sensors in the area of the body where the operation is taking place (e.g., cesarean section childbirth)
• General anesthesia: A patient is unconscious during the procedure and feels nothing

Anesthesia affects everyone differently. However, that is no excuse for medical errors that can be prevented by using proper safety protocols.

Examples of Anesthesia Negligence

Some of the most common examples of anesthesia negligence include:

• Giving too much or too little anesthesia
• Administering the wrong type, which could lead to an allergic reaction
• Delaying anesthesia delivery
• Using defective medication
• Failing to monitor the patient or their oxygen levels during surgery

The Consequences of Anesthesia Malpractice

Anesthesia medications are very powerful, and their improper use may result in dire consequences, including:

• Death
• Brain injury
• Nerve damage
• Birth defects
• Paralysis
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Coma

Common Causes of Anesthesia & Surgical Mistakes

Every surgery is unique, and so are the medical errors that can occur during an operation.

When medical mistakes are made due to negligence, they typically fall under one of the following categories of errors:

• Insufficient planning: Surgeons and anesthesiologists should be prepared for their procedures. Preparation steps may include reviewing the patient’s medical history, reviewing the procedure, preparing for complications during the surgery, prepping the nurses and other medical staff involved in the surgery, and reviewing equipment that needs to be readily available. When one or more of these steps are missed, medical errors can quickly put patients in harm’s way.
• Incompetence: When a surgeon agrees to perform a surgery, you would like to think they have performed it successfully in the past and know what they are doing. Unfortunately, some surgeons perform operations for which they are not qualified or lack the proper skills to perform them adequately. This puts the patient at serious risk of further injury and could lead to a failed procedure.
• Fatigue: Most medical professionals work long hours and late nights. Fatigue can cloud one’s judgment and can lead to several lapses during a procedure.
• Poor communication: When a medical team is not on the same page, errors are bound to occur. Poor communication between the surgeon and other staff members could result in missed information and incomplete records that lead to errors in medication dosage, improper use of anesthesia, or the wrong plan being carried out during a surgical procedure.
• Rushing or neglecting safety process: Doctors are busy professionals and may have more than one surgery scheduled in a day. Rushing through a procedure or deciding a medical step is unnecessary during surgery can have negative effects on a patient’s health.
• Drug and alcohol use: Surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and medical assistants cannot perform their jobs under the influence. Operating while intoxicated puts patients at grave danger of further injury, infection, or death caused by serious medical errors and poor judgment.

There is never a good excuse for negligence during a surgical procedure. As quickly as these mistakes occur, the window for reporting hospital errors can also pass, leaving patients in physical, emotional, and financial distress. 

If you believe you or someone you love has been a victim of medical negligence, calling an attorney who is experienced in medical malpractice will help you determine if you are eligible for compensation for your injuries.

Discuss Your Options in a Free Consultation

Patients who are undergoing surgery are already in a vulnerable state. At the law firm of Salenger, Sack, Kimmel & Bavaro, LLP, we understand the hardships that patients endure after being victimized by medical negligence. We are dedicated to providing the care and quality legal representation you deserve to seek justice for all damages sustained. This allows you to focus on what’s most important: Your recovery.

Let our team stand up to the negligent medical professionals and institutions that caused you unnecessary harm.

Contact Salenger, Sack, Kimmel & Bavaro, LLP to review your case and explore your options for seeking justice against medical negligence. Call us at (800) 572-7246 for a free consultation.