Anesthesia is one of the biggest medical miracles to ever occur. It makes numerous medical procedures that would never have been possible without it quick and easy for both doctors and patients.
However, anesthesia errors cause thousands of injuries to patients every year, many of which are serious. Substitution errors, which generally involve swapping one drug for another with a similar name, account for more than 31% of all anesthesia mistakes. Incorrect dosages, at more than 28%, run a close second.
The big question, of course, is why these errors keep happening despite all of the pre-surgical consults and precautions in place.
1. Inexperience
Anesthesia requires a lot of specialized knowledge and skills to safely manage, and young, inexperienced anesthesiologists may lack the proficiency they need with equipment, medication dosages and patient assessments.
2. Time pressures
Hospitals are fast-paced environments with major time constraints. Pressure to move quickly between patients to adhere to tight surgical schedules can lead to rushed decision-making and shortcuts that compromise patient safety.
3. Communication problems
Effective communication is essential among members of an anesthesia team. Breakdowns in communication can lead to inappropriate preparation for potential complications, poor handover procedures and other misunderstandings that put patients at risk.
In short, the vast majority of anesthesia errors can be directly tied back to human error. Underskilled, fatigued, stressed and distracted doctors make mistakes, and patients end up suffering. If you or your loved one developed a health complication due to an anesthesiology mistake, learning more about your legal options can help you decide what steps to take next.