Does over-medication constitute medical malpractice?

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Question:

My daughter underwent a surgery for a routine tonsillectomy.  The anesthesiologist administered too much medication, resulting in a severe brain injury.  Can we file a claim for medical malpractice against this doctor?

Answer:

Medication errors account for thousands of serious injuries and deaths each year.  When a patient is given the wrong dosage of a particular medicine, the side effects can be debilitating.  Overmedication can result in brain injury, respiratory failure, retardation and even death.  Some of the most common types of anesthesia errors include:

  • Administering too much anesthesia
  • Failure to properly administer oxygen during surgery
  • Harmful drug interactions with the anesthesia
  • Administering anesthesia to an allergic patient
  • Failing to properly monitor a patient

Anesthesiologists must review the patient’s chart and medical history before administering the anesthesia.  If a doctor fails to properly monitor the patient’s reaction to anesthesia, they can be held liable for medical malpractice.

Medical malpractice claims are extremely complex and require proof that the doctor or medical professional failed to follow the standard of care used by others in their fields.  An experienced medical malpractice attorney can assist you in filing a lawsuit to obtain compensation for your injuries.

Talk to a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in your area to find out more about the legal options available to you.

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