Nurse Anesthetist Malpractice

When people undergo surgery, there is often a team of providers involved in their care, and in many instances, that team includes nurse anesthetists. Nurse anesthetists, like all health care providers, have an obligation to provide their patients with competent care, and if they do not, they may be held accountable for any losses that arise out of their recklessness. If you were harmed by a careless nurse anesthetist, you might be able to cover damages via a nurse anesthetist malpractice claim, and it is in your best interest to confer with an attorney. At Arfaa Law Group, our assertive Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys are proficient at handling complicated medical malpractice claims, and if you hire us, we will diligently pursue any damages you may be owed.

Nurse anesthetists essentially perform the same duties as anesthesiologists. Specifically, they administer anesthesia to patients before and during surgical procedures and provide palliative care to patients suffering from chronic or terminal illnesses. Numerous issues can arise during the administration of anesthesia that can lead to malpractice claims. For example, if a nurse anesthetist administers too much anesthesia, it can affect the patient’s ability to breathe, which can lead to brain damage and organ failure. Conversely, if they do not administer enough anesthesia, the patient may be awake during the procedure, which can lead to pain and psychological trauma. Nurse anesthetists can also cause harm by failing to determine whether a patient is allergic to certain drugs before administering them.

In Maryland, people can seek damages from any health care providers that cause them to suffer harm in the context of medical care. The definition of health care providers is not limited to doctors but includes anyone licensed to provide health care; as such, it includes nurse anesthetists. In other words, nurse anesthetists can be named as defendants in medical malpractice lawsuits. The anesthesiologists that supervise them will often be named as defendants as well.

In order to recover damages in a medical malpractice lawsuit, a plaintiff must establish a defendant’s liability. Typically, this is accomplished via a negligence claim. In Maryland, to prove negligence with regard to health care, the plaintiff must prove the defendant had a duty to comply with the applicable standard of care, which is the care that a reasonable professional working in the same practice area as the defendant would provide when they encounter a similar set of facts. Next, the plaintiff needs to prove that the defendant deviated from the standard of care. The plaintiff will usually need to hire an expert to explain what is required under the standard of care and how the defendant’s behavior constitutes a breach of the standard.

Finally, the plaintiff must demonstrate proximate cause and damages. In other words, they must show a causal connection between the defendant’s departure from the standard of care and their resulting harm and must prove that they suffered actual losses. This usually requires expert testimony as well. A plaintiff the proves a defendant’s liability may be awarded compensation for the cost of any medical care they needed due to their injuries, out-of-pocket expenses, and, if they were unable to work because of their harm, lost wages. They may also be able to recover damages for the mental and emotional trauma, pain, and suffering they endured.

Nurse anesthetists are an important part of patient care, but they can cause their patients to suffer irreparable losses when they do not perform their jobs carefully. If you were harmed by a negligent nurse anesthetist, you might be owed damages, and you should meet with an attorney to discuss your possible causes of action. The experienced Baltimore lawyers of Arfaa Law Group possess the skills and resources needed to prove health care providers should be held responsible for the injuries caused by their neglect, and if you engage our services, we will fight to help you seek a just outcome. We have an office in Baltimore where we regularly help people with nurse anesthetist malpractice claims. You can reach us by calling 410-889-1850 or using our online form to set up a confidential and free conference.