Research from the American Society of Anesthesiologists shows that more than 40 million anesthetics are administered every single year throughout the country. The majority of these are administered safely and with no side effects. Unfortunately, however, malpractice and errors can cause serious problems for patients and may even result in maternal death.

There are two primary types of anesthesia. These are local anesthesia and general anesthesia. The purpose of general anesthesia is to hold the muscular reflexes of the body including swallowing and breathing. When administered inappropriately, however, a pregnant woman can face injuries for herself as well as the child. Although technology has advanced significantly, anesthesia errors have not been eliminated entirely.

Anesthesia complications can arise from:

It is very popular to use epidural anesthesia during childbirth although general anesthesia may also be used. This is particularly true in situations in which the mother’s circulation or blood pressure is compromised or experiences a sudden onset hemorrhage.

A regional anesthesia should not be used because it will produce dilated blood vessels which can exacerbate low blood pressure. Significant bleeding such as a usual susceptibility to bleeding, in general, is another contraindication for general anesthesia. Significant low blood pressure is also known as 'hypotension' can be a complication of anesthesia, and is a danger to mother and baby. The way an epiduralized mother must lie exacerbates this and essentially is paralyzed for the length of the epidural.

Serious injuries can lead to maternal death as well as birth injuries for the child. If you find yourself in this situation, it may seem as though there is no hope and trying to work through this extremely difficult circumstance can make your life very challenging. Identifying an attorney who has experience in this field who can help you to fight for compensation may be the only way for you to move on and recover the financial compensation necessary to help your child.

Any medical procedure, including labor and delivery, can carry a risk of medical malpractice and errors that could hurt the baby or the pregnant mother.

Anesthesia, when used properly, can be a crucial way to protect someone from the pain and other challenges associated with surgery or other medical treatments. The proper dosage of anesthesia is based on the general person and her medical conditions. However, this dosage must be adjusted for women who are pregnant. The stakes are much higher in any medical case involving a pregnant woman because the risk of severe injuries for her and the baby is much higher.

Doctors are responsible for adhering to published and established guidelines for patient care, and when they deviate from this or are not paying appropriate attention in the labor and delivery room, it is often the patient and the baby who pay the price.

No family should have to go through the immeasurable joy of having a new child while also suffering with the catastrophic grief of realizing that their loved one will never be able to see that child grow up. If this applies to you, our anesthesia negligence lawyers can assist you with filing a claim to help put this incident behind you.

Common Types of Obstetric Anesthesia Malpractice Claims

Obstetric anesthesia malpractice claims often include issues such as:

The correct dosage of anesthesia changes significantly with a pregnant woman, and if a doctor was not paying attention or made a mistake in the labor/delivery room, it is even harder to learn that this situation was preventable. When a child is born without a mother to help raise him or her, the family is forever impacted by the medical mistake made during labor.

No amount of money can ever replace the amount of suffering your family has had to endure because of a doctor's mistake but the law empowers you to pursue a medical malpractice claim to hold the doctor and other relevant staff accountable. This can be a crucial way to ensure that no such accident happens again. Talking to an attorney now will give you a better idea of whether or not you are eligible to file an Ohio medical malpractice claim and the steps that are involved in a case.