What are common examples of anesthesia malpractice?

Common examples of anesthesia malpractice include anesthesia awareness, pre-operative evaluation failures, improper intubation, aspiration of stomach contents, incorrect anesthesia dosage, and failure to monitor a patient’s vital signs.

How do pre-operative errors lead to anesthesia malpractice?

Pre-operative errors occur when an anesthesiologist fails to review medical history, allergies, medications, or fasting instructions, increasing the risk of complications during surgery.

What are tube-related anesthesia errors?

Tube-related anesthesia errors involve improper placement, removal, or monitoring of a breathing tube, which can cause oxygen deprivation, brain damage, nerve injury, or airway trauma.

What injuries can result from anesthesia dosage errors?

Anesthesia dosage errors may result in patients waking during surgery, respiratory failure, brain damage, coma, or death if too much or too little anesthesia is administered.

Six Examples of Anesthesia Malpractice in New Mexico

Q: What is anesthesia awareness?

Anesthesia awareness occurs when a patient becomes conscious during surgery due to insufficient anesthesia, often causing severe emotional distress and long-term psychological harm.

Feb 13, 2025 | By Victor Poulos | Read Time: 4 minutes | Medical Malpractice

Going under general anesthesia can be scary.

You are likely scared of both the medical procedure you are undergoing and scared of getting the anesthesia itself.

Anesthesia malpractice case examples that are explained within the article demonstrate that these concerns are not unfounded.

Errors in anesthesia administration can result in severe and lifelong disabilities for patients.

Surprisingly, these medical mistakes are more prevalent than commonly perceived.

For example, according to one study, a total of 17,116 anesthetic errors were reported between 2007 and 2014.

Those who experienced serious injury after an anesthesia mistake may have a medical malpractice lawsuit against one or more providers.

At the New Mexico medical malpractice law firm of Poulos & Cavazos, LLP, our medical malpractice attorneys have more than 50 years of experience helping patients recover financial compensation through anesthesia malpractice claims.

When anesthesia mistakes leave you with lasting injuries, unanswered questions, or overwhelming medical bills, let Poulos & Cavazos fight for accountability and compensation while you focus on healing and peace of mind. Contact Us

Key Takeaways:

Continuous training improves care quality: Ongoing professional training helps healthcare staff stay current with best practices and safety protocols, reducing errors.
Clear communication is critical: Accurate exchange of patient information, treatment plans, and risks prevents misunderstandings that can lead to harm.
Standardized protocols reduce variability: Established procedures for medication, monitoring, and treatment ensure consistent quality across healthcare teams.
Technology enhances safety: Tools like electronic health records (EHRs) and barcode systems help prevent documentation errors and improve patient outcomes.
Patients play a role too: Researching providers, asking questions, and communicating concerns helps patients advocate for safer care.

What Are Some Anesthesia Malpractice Case Examples?

Examples of anesthesia malpractice cases include overdose errors, failure to monitor vital signs, improper intubation, and delayed administration. These mistakes can cause serious harm such as brain damage, nerve injury, intraoperative awareness, respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, or death. Each case reflects critical lapses in anesthesia care and oversight.

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When an anesthesiologist’s preventable mistake results in patient harm, they could be held liable through a medical malpractice claim.

Below are six anesthesia malpractice case examples.

1. Anesthesia Awareness

Anesthesia awareness is the term used to describe a situation where a patient wakes up when they are supposed to be under the effects of anesthesia.

These errors are typically the result of doctors providing too little medication or administering the medication too late.

2. Pre-Operation Errors

Before an anesthesiologist can administer anesthesia, they must conduct a thorough review of the patient’s medical history.

They must also advise the patient about food and drink restrictions prior to the procedure. If a doctor fails to provide the necessary pre-operative care, the anesthesia may not work as intended.

3. Tube-Related Mistakes

Anesthesiologists place a tube down a patient’s throat that allows them to receive oxygen while they are unconscious.

A mistake in placing or removing this tube can cause serious injury to a patient, including brain damage, nerve damage, stroke, or a perforated trachea.

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4. Aspiration

In the context of anesthesia, aspiration occurs when a patient vomits and gets food or liquid in their trachea and lungs.

This often causes severe complications because the patient lacks the esophageal reflexes that would normally expel the vomit, leading to an inability to breathe.

5. Dosage Errors

If an anesthesiologist provides a patient with too little medication, they may wake up during the procedure.

However, if a patient receives too much medication, it can cause permanent damage to their organs and may result in the patient slipping into a coma.

6. Failure to Monitor a Patient

Doctors or nurses should always monitor a patient’s vitals.

Additionally, patients should be moved frequently to avoid nerve compression, which may lead to permanent nerve damage.

These are just a few anesthesia malpractice case examples.

There are many other situations in which a doctor or other healthcare provider may be liable for anesthesia injuries.

Anesthesia Malpractice Case Examples FAQs

What is anesthesia malpractice?

Anesthesia malpractice occurs when errors are made before, during, or after anesthesia administration, resulting in injury, complications, or death to the patient.

What are common anesthesia malpractice case examples?

Common examples include anesthesia awareness, improper dosage, failure to monitor vital signs, delayed response to complications, and errors during intubation.

What is anesthesia awareness?

Anesthesia awareness happens when a patient becomes conscious during surgery due to insufficient anesthesia, often causing physical pain and lasting psychological trauma.

Can incorrect anesthesia dosage cause serious harm?

Yes. Too much anesthesia can lead to respiratory failure or brain injury, while too little may cause awareness during surgery or severe pain.

How does failure to monitor a patient lead to malpractice?

Anesthesia requires continuous monitoring of oxygen levels, heart rate, and blood pressure. Failure to detect changes promptly can result in severe injury or death.

What injuries are associated with anesthesia errors?

Injuries may include brain damage, nerve injury, cardiac complications, respiratory failure, paralysis, or wrongful death.

Who may be responsible for anesthesia malpractice?

Responsible parties may include anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, hospitals, surgical staff, or healthcare facilities involved in patient care.

How are anesthesia malpractice cases proven?

Medical records, anesthesia logs, expert testimony, and documentation of deviations from accepted medical practices are commonly used to prove negligence.

Can anesthesia malpractice lead to wrongful death claims?

Yes. When anesthesia errors result in fatal outcomes, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim for compensation.

Should I speak with a lawyer after an anesthesia injury?

If you or a loved one suffered harm due to anesthesia errors, consulting an experienced medical malpractice attorney can help determine whether you have a valid claim.

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Do You Have a Case Of Anesthesia Negligence?

If you or a loved one recently suffered preventable injuries as a result of an anesthesia mistake, reach out to Poulos & Cavazos, LLP, to learn more about your rights.

At our New Mexico medical malpractice law firm, we have over seven decades of experience helping patients and their families pursue justice after suffering unnecessarily at the hands of negligent medical providers.

To learn more and to schedule a free consultation with one of our anesthesia malpractice lawyers, call Poulos & Cavazos, LLP, at 575-376-6600 today or contact us online.

Where to find our Las Cruces, NM office:

Victor Poulos, JD

For more than two decades, Victor Poulos has devoted his practice exclusively to representing patients and families harmed by medical negligence. He has handled complex medical malpractice cases involving hospitals, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare providers, and has taken hundreds of depositions of physicians, nurses, and hospital staff across nearly every medical specialty. Mr. Poulos has successfully tried high-stakes malpractice cases to verdict and is known for his meticulous case preparation and relentless advocacy on behalf of injured patients.