Anesthesia Error Lawyers
Anesthesia errors can result from administering the wrong dose or wrong type of anesthesia, failing to analyze a patient’s medical history, or failing to monitor a patient under anesthesia adequately. If an anesthesia error has harmed you or someone you love, you may be eligible for compensation.
Anesthesia errors can lead to serious, sometimes life-threatening complications during surgery. While some mistakes cause minor issues, others result in permanent injury or even death. If you’ve been harmed by an anesthesia error, you may be entitled to compensation.
Cutter Law Delivers Results for Anesthesia Error Victims
Anesthesia is a vital aspect of surgical procedures. These drugs used are powerful, and mistakes can be deadly. Anesthesia error is a complex area of law. If you were injured from an anesthesia error, it’s often difficult to prove that your injuries were because of an anesthesia error.
The experienced medical malpractice lawyers at Cutter Law have been representing victims of anesthesia errors for decades. We are relentless and passionate about getting our clients the compensation they deserve from medical professionals who have harmed them. Our results speak for themselves.
Trial attorney Brooks Cutter took a lead role in a nationwide case against Boston Scientific and Guidant following a recall of the manufacturer’s pacemakers and cardiac defibrillators.
Medical malpractice jury verdict on behalf of a young woman who suffered a spinal cord injury after doctors failed to diagnose a tumor on her spine.
Brooks Cutter and Margot Cutter won a $2.4 million dollar verdict on behalf of the children of a man who died after a staff doctor at a hospital lied and transferred a patient to another hospital that was not equipped to handle the patient.
Appointed by the federal court to the plaintiffs steering committee in the Medtronic Sprint Fidelis case on behalf of patients injured by defective defibrillator leads, ultimately ending in a successful settlement for our clients.
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Featured Anesthesia Errors Lawyer
John Roussas has been recognized by Northern California Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in 2009–2010 and as a Super Lawyer from 2019 to 2025 and successfully handles various medical malpractice cases.
Standard of Care for Anesthesiologists in California
When you go through a surgical procedure, anesthesia is used to prevent you from feeling pain during and after the procedure. Anesthesiologists are in charge of all the processes involved in administering anesthesia safely.
Anesthesiologists’ duties start before the procedure. They need to assess and evaluate the patient’s medical history in light of the procedure they will undergo and develop an anesthesia plan. Anesthesiologists are also present during surgery to monitor the patient under anesthesia. Post-surgery, they monitor the patient’s recovery and pain management.
Understanding the standard of care for anesthesiologists is important because anesthesiology, like every field of medicine, is not risk-free. Something terrible can happen even if the anesthesiologist did everything right. But if the care the anesthesiologist provided does not meet the medical standard of care, they can be held liable.
If an anesthesiologist meets the medical standard of care, they have provided the level of care that a similarly qualified health professional with the same background would have provided under the same circumstances. In the case of an anesthesia error, the anesthesiologist must have done something different than a similarly competent anesthesiologist in the same situation.
If you suspect you suffered an injury because of an anesthesia error in California, an anesthesia error lawyer will help you. You can speak with the anesthesia error attorneys at Cutter Law to find out if you have a case.
Malpractice is when a medical practitioner fails to use that level of skill, care, and knowledge that another reasonable person under similar circumstances would use.
John Roussas,
Partner at Cutter Law
Common Anesthesia Errors
There are different ways that medical professionals can commit anesthesia errors. Here are the most common:
- Administering the wrong anesthesia dosage
- Inserting the intubation tube incorrectly
- Failing to inform a patient about the possible anesthesia complications
- Not evaluating a patient’s medical history to discover possible complications and devise a more suitable anesthesia plan
- Leaving a patient under anesthesia without close monitoring
- Failing to recognize an anesthesia-related reaction or side effects
- Administering the wrong anesthesia or doing so later than when it should have been administered
- Using defective equipment
Common Anesthesia Error Injuries
You may suffer any of the following injuries from anesthesia errors:
- Teeth damage
- Nerve damage
- Damage to the heart and other organs
- Asphyxia
- Stroke or heart attack
- Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction to anesthesia)
- Spinal cord injury
- Mental trauma
- Damage to the trachea
- Anesthesia awareness (becoming conscious in the middle of surgery)
- Death
If you or a loved one have suffered any of these injuries after a surgical procedure, it may be a sign that an anesthesia error occurred. Consulting with an anesthesia error attorney at Cutter Law P.C. can help you discover if an anesthesia error occurred so you can take steps to pursue your claim.
Who Can Be Liable for Anesthesia Error?
A surgical procedure involves many health professionals, including doctors, anesthesiologists, and nurses, any of whom may be responsible for anesthesia errors. If the negligent party is an employee of the hospital, you can hold the hospital liable.
However, many anesthesiologists work as independent contractors. Generally, you can’t hold the hospital responsible for the actions of independent contractors. The agreement between the anesthesiologist and the hospital will show whether the anesthesiologist is a hospital employee or an independent contractor.
Another factor is the level of control the hospital has over how the anesthesiologist does their work. If the hospital has enough control, it may be responsible. Otherwise, the anesthesiologist will be directly responsible for their actions.
Manufacturers or distributors of anesthesia equipment may also be liable if defective equipment used to administer anesthesia or monitor a patient caused the error. If the defect was because of a failure to maintain the equipment properly, the hospital may be liable.
It may be difficult to determine the party to add as the defendant. This is a complex issue, and you may need an anesthesia malpractice lawyer to help you. The anesthesia error lawyers at Cutter Law can help you discover and file a claim against the party responsible for your injuries.
Statute of Limitation in Anesthesia Cases in California
The statute of limitation determines the time you have to file a claim. The statute of limitation in anesthesia cases is the same as in other medical malpractice cases. Under California’s Code of Civil Procedure Section 340.5, you must bring your anesthesia error claim within one year of the discovery of the injury or within three years from when the injury happened.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is anesthesia malpractice?
Anesthesia malpractice happens when a health care provider, such as an anesthesiologist or a certified registered nurse anesthesiologist or a hospital, fails in their responsibility to administer anesthesia safely, resulting in injury.
Can anesthesia medical malpractice occur?
Yes. Anesthesia medical malpractice occurs when the negligence or mistake of health care providers causes an anesthesia error.
What types of injuries can anesthesia errors cause?
Anesthesia errors can cause mild injuries, such as concussion or delirium, which may go on their own or with little treatment within a couple of days or weeks. They may also cause more severe injuries such as brain damage, spinal cord injury, or even death.
Can anesthesia error cause permanent damage?
Yes. Anesthesia error can cause permanent injuries, such as nerve damage, brain damage, paralysis, and even death in extreme cases.
Call us today for a free case evaluation. There’s no obligation to work with us, and you won’t pay for our legal services unless you receive compensation for your injuries.
Get Legal Help for Anesthesia Errors in California
If an anesthesia error has caused you serious injury or impacted a loved one’s life, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim. These mistakes are often preventable and can result in long-term physical, emotional, and financial harm. The attorneys at Cutter Law have extensive experience handling complex anesthesia error cases across California and are prepared to fight for the compensation you deserve. Let us help you move forward, reach out today for a free consultation.
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Depending on the year when your case goes to trial, the medical malpractice damages cap could be anywhere from half a million to a million dollars, roughly.
In general, the California statute of limitations for medical malpractice is one (1) from when you knew or should have known about the malpractice.
Non-economic damages are those quality of life losses that you sustain in an injury, including the pain and suffering, humiliation, and grief.
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