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A significant number of anesthesiologists who commit errors by administering the wrong drug or an improper dose of anesthetics never report the mistake, researchers determined. An estimated 10 percent of these mistakes cause harm to patients.
The evidence shows that (mistakes) are grossly underreported at least in our institution, and I suspect in many others,” said the leader of the study, Dr. Mark Hausman, in an Anesthesiology News article. Hausman is the chief anesthesiologist for the Veteran’s Administration’s Ann Arbor Healthcare System and an assistant professor of anesthesiology at the University of Michigan’s medical school.
The researchers reviewed quality assurance statistics and other sources that showed possible medication mistakes that happened from July 2006 to November 2015. When anesthesiologists under-report medication errors in Boynton Beach, it can have very real implications for patients. If you have been affected by the negligence of an anesthesiologist, get in touch with a qualified medical malpractice lawyer that can advocate for you.
Why Mistakes Happen
Most of the medication mistakes happen because some anesthesiologists fail to follow protocols, use medication containers that look similar to each other but have different drugs, or simply there is an absence of knowledge, the study reported. Researchers also said these mistakes can happen in any surgery. The usual protocol, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, is for the anesthesiologist to meet with the patient before surgery to review patient history and medical condition to plan the correct anesthetic for the type of surgery to be performed.
Sedatives are used to induce sleeping, analgesics to reduce pain and several medications are used in the various procedures for local, regional, and general anesthesia purposes. The most common drugs used for sedation are barbiturates, benzodiazepines, Etomidate, Propofol, and Ketamine. Following surgery, the anesthesiologist stops the anesthetic from entering the blood and monitors the patient in the recovery room. Overdoses of an anesthetic can be deadly or can cause serious medical problems. The specific anesthetic used and how fast they enter the bloodstream can be toxic and result in severe medical issues.
What to Do if Harmed
When anesthesiologists under-report medication errors in Boynton Beach, it can have serious consequences for you and your loved ones. Anyone who is seriously harmed or families of those who died from an anesthesiologist’s mistake should promptly consult with a medical malpractice attorney. A medical malpractice lawyer is committed to holding an anesthesiologist financially responsible for a mistake and to serve as encouragement to other practitioners to follow the accepted protocols the profession has in place.
