Allergic Reactions to Anesthesia

Doctors regularly use anesthesia to prevent patients from experiencing pain during surgical procedures and diagnostic exams. While many people undergo sedation without complications, some suffer allergic reactions to anesthesia that ultimately cause grave harm. In many instances, such reactions are the result of inadequate examinations or monitoring and may be grounds for pursuing medical malpractice claims. If you or a loved one sustained injuries due to an allergic reaction to anesthesia, it is advisable to consult an attorney to determine what claims you may be able to pursue. The skilled Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers of Arfaa Law Group are adept at handling challenging claims against healthcare providers, and if you hire us, we will collect the evidence needed to provide you with a strong chance of a favorable result.

Allergic reactions to anesthesia, though infrequent, can lead to critical medical issues. Specifically, anesthesia, which is typically administered during surgeries and diagnostic procedures to induce unconsciousness and provide pain relief, occasionally triggers adverse immune responses in the form of allergic reactions. Such reactions can range from mild manifestations like skin rashes or pruritus to severe complications such as respiratory distress, facial swelling, precipitous drops in blood pressure, and anaphylactic shock.

A thorough preoperative assessment of a patient's medical history and allergies is essential to determine their individual risk of developing an allergic reaction to anesthesia. In some instances, a doctor may need to consider using alternative anesthesia drugs for patients with a history of allergic reactions. If an allergic reaction occurs, immediate intervention is paramount to manage what could become a fatal scenario.

Generally, doctors can take certain steps to prevent their patients from developing allergic reactions to anesthesia. If a physician fails to employ such measures, and their patient suffers damages as a result, they may be liable for medical malpractice. As it is usually a careless rather than intentional act that leads to patient harm, most plaintiffs in malpractice cases will assert a negligence claim against the defendant.

In a Maryland medical malpractice case, for a plaintiff to prove a defendant's negligence, they must first prove that the defendant owed them a duty. The duty a doctor owes a patient is to treat them according to the standard of care, which is the treatment a competent professional practicing in the same specialty would offer when faced with a similar situation. In most instances, the plaintiff will need to offer expert testimony to the judge or jury regarding the defendant’s obligations under the standard of care.

The plaintiff then must prove that the defendant deviated from the standard of care in some way, which usually requires expert testimony as well. Finally, the plaintiff has to show that the defendant’s breach directly caused the plaintiff to suffer actual harm. In other words, they must link the defendant’s actions or omissions to their losses. Expert testimony is also usually needed to demonstrate causation. The defendant will often argue that the plaintiff’s harm was inevitable or that it was not caused by the defendant’s behavior and will offer their own expert testimony in support of their position. As such, many medical malpractice cases come down to which party’s expert offers more compelling evidence.

If the plaintiff proves that the defendant is at fault, they may be granted compensation for their financial harm, including the cost of any medical care, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses, and their intangible harm, which includes suffering, mental and emotional trauma, and pain.

Sedation provides most people with necessary protection from pain during procedures, but some people suffer allergic reactions to anesthesia that cause irreparable losses. If you or someone you love suffered harm due to a doctor’s failure to prevent or treat an allergic reaction to anesthesia, you may be owed compensation, and you should speak to an attorney. The experienced Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers of Arfaa Law Group take pride in helping victims of medical negligence seek redress for their losses, and if we represent you, we will advocate zealously on your behalf. We frequently assist injured parties with medical malpractice claims in Baltimore, where our office is located. You can reach us through our form online or at (410) 889-1850 to schedule a conference.