| Anesthesia medical malpractice accounts for a | | | | practitioners to never alter medical records, but in |
| large number of medical malpractice cases across | | | | the moments surrounding a potentially fatal |
| the country. Anesthesia malpractice is currently | | | | mistake, professional and ethical advice is often |
| the twelfth highest medical specialty when it | | | | forgotten. |
| comes to the percentage of physicians in the | | | | Most people think of anesthesia malpractice as |
| specialty who have paid claims for malpractice. | | | | only taking place in the operating room; however, |
| Anesthesia malpractice is usually devastating, | | | | that is not the case. Anesthesia-related |
| often resulting in permanent injury, brain damage, | | | | malpractice can happen during pre-operative |
| and even death. | | | | preparation, post-operatively in the recovery |
| Unfortunately, proving negligence by an | | | | room and in any procedure room in a medical |
| anesthesiologist or anesthesia staff is probably the | | | | facility or doctor's office. Anesthesia mistakes can |
| most difficult malpractice to prove because the | | | | take place during childbirth and even before the |
| plaintiff, at the time of the malpractice, was | | | | simplest dental procedures and are not limited to |
| unconscious or sedated, and minimal and often | | | | anesthesiologists. |
| unreliable medical records are the only source of | | | | Many healthcare professionals administer |
| information in the case. | | | | sedatives and anesthetics to their patients prior to |
| Hospitals and out-patient clinics should always keep | | | | procedures and surgeries. Administration of |
| detailed anesthesia notes in a patient's chart | | | | anesthesia requires specialized training and |
| including a pre-anesthesia exam; informed consent | | | | certification; certainly, the seriousness and number |
| form; operative record; transfer notes; physician | | | | of complications increases significantly outside of |
| notes and post-anesthesia record. Sometimes, | | | | the setting of the anesthesiologist in the operating |
| after a tragic malpractice mistake, records get | | | | room. Severe complications and death can occur |
| "lost" or altered; only careful inspection of medical | | | | in dental offices and cosmetic surgery clinics |
| records can reveal post-mistake additions, | | | | during procedures where patients are under |
| omissions or alterations. | | | | general anesthesia and trained anesthesia staff |
| An altered or destroyed medical record offers | | | | are not present. |
| the plaintiff's side wonderful opportunities to prove | | | | Potential anesthesia medical malpractice |
| malpractice and an attempt to hide the | | | | defendants include many medical practitioners |
| malpractice. Malpractice insurers and professional | | | | including anesthesiologists, nurses, nurse |
| medical societies continuously warn medical | | | | anesthetists, surgeons, dentists, and doctors. |