Anesthesia

When a medical malpractice case revolves around anesthesia, it is essential to have a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) review the medical records. A CRNA has the expertise and experience to identify any errors or omissions made in the administration of anesthesia that could result in significant harm to the patient. They are also well-versed in the latest safety protocols, so they can flag any instances of substandard care. Medication errors, allergic reactions, equipment malfunction, poor positioning of the patient, wrong patient identification, inadequate monitoring, inadequate sedation, and insufficient pain control are some of the most common causes of medical malpractice claims involving anesthesia. Notably, failure to diagnose or failure to recognize risk factors predisposing a patient to malignant hyperthermia is a negligent situation highly specific to this field of medicine. CRNAs are anesthesia providers who can administer anesthesia, in some states independent of the direction of an anesthesiologist. These advanced practice nurses (APNs) are therefore held to the same standard of care as their anesthesiology MD counterparts, but their consulting services are drastically more affordable. A highly-trained CRNA can review the relevant medical records and make an informed assessment of the liability in the case to help you determine if you should proceed in the representation of the client.