Waking up in the middle of surgery is a terrifying thought to even think about, but it can happen to anyone. Anesthesia is administered to people before surgery so they are unconscious during the procedure. Anesthesia awareness is when a person wakes up during surgery. This can happen if anesthesia is not administered with precision, and in such a case, you can sue the medical practitioners for medical malpractice. Schedule a consultation with King Law to know more.
Why do some patients experience anesthesia awareness?
There can be several reasons why a patient may wake up during surgery. In most cases, it is because the person has multiple medical conditions, and thus the usual dose of anesthesia needed for specific surgeries can not be administered safely. Anesthesia awareness also happens in emergency surgeries, such as C-section surgeries.
How to reduce the risk of anesthesia awareness?
To reduce the risk of waking up during surgery, you must tell your anesthesiologist about your pre-existing medical conditions. Tell them about the following:
- Your history of anesthesia awareness
- All of the medications you are taking currently
- Any concerns you have regarding the surgery
- Your history of alcohol use or recreational drugs
Can you sue a doctor if you wake up during surgery?
Anesthesiologists are medical specialists monitoring a patient’s vital conditions under anesthesia. However, if an anesthesiologist is not careful, anesthesia malpractice can occur. If anesthesia negligence caused you to wake up during surgery, then you may be able to sue for anesthesia malpractice. Compensation for anesthesia malpractice can cover the following:
- If waking up during the surgery causes you to move and thus leads to tissue damage, you may need further medical assistance to treat that. Your compensation can cover these medical bills.
- If waking up during surgery causes you mental trauma, compensation can help you cover therapy costs.
- If you are temporarily or permanently disabled due to waking up during surgery, the compensation can help you recover lost wages.
- Compensation can also help you cover pain and suffering, mental anguish, PTSD, or any other mental effects anesthesia awareness has on you.
Talk to a legal professional today!
If you have been a victim of medical malpractice, you can sue the medical practitioners and receive compensation for recovering your losses. Schedule a consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer today and determine what options are available to you.
