Your Options After a Serious Anesthesiology Injury 

 Posted on March 13, 2025 in Medical Malpractice

Anesthesia is a crucial part of medicine, allowing patients to undergo surgeries and medical procedures without pain. However, when anesthesiologists make critical errors, the consequences can be severe — even life-threatening. If you or a loved one suffered an anesthesia-related injury due to medical negligence, you may have legal options to seek compensation for your losses.

At Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, LLC, our Illinois personal injury lawyers have a proven track record of winning outstanding settlements and verdicts for our clients. If you have a strong case, we will fight for your rights and ensure you receive maximum compensation.

What Are Common Anesthesia Errors?

Administering anesthesia is a complex process that requires careful monitoring of a patient’s vital signs, dosage levels, and overall condition. Even a small mistake can lead to catastrophic injuries. Some of the most serious anesthesiology errors include:

• Dosage mistakes: Administering too much anesthesia can cause brain damage, coma, or death. Too little can leave a patient conscious and in extreme pain during surgery.

• Failure to monitor vital signs: Anesthesiologists must watch for signs of distress, including oxygen deprivation and dangerously low blood pressure. If they fail to intervene quickly enough, there can be permanent harm.

• Intubation errors: Placing a breathing tube incorrectly can lead to oxygen deprivation, airway damage, or aspiration, which can cause serious infections.

• Allergic reactions or drug interactions: Failing to review a patient’s medical history and medication list can result in a life-threatening reaction to anesthesia.

• Delayed anesthesia administration: In emergency situations, delays in administering anesthesia can cause unnecessary pain, increased surgical complications, or long-term health consequences.

When these types of errors occur, the results can be devastating. Patients may suffer brain injuries, paralysis, organ failure, or wrongful death. In such cases, victims and their families have the right to pursue legal action against the responsible parties within a limited amount of time.

Can You Sue for an Anesthesiology Injury in Illinois?

Under Illinois law, patients who suffer harm due to medical negligence can file a lawsuit against the healthcare providers responsible for their injuries. To prove a medical malpractice claim, you must establish that:

• The anesthesiologist or medical provider owed you a duty of care.

• They breached that duty by failing to meet the accepted standard of care.

• Their negligence directly caused your injuries.

• You suffered damages as a result.

Illinois law requires that medical malpractice claims be supported by an affidavit from a qualified medical professional who can confirm that negligence likely occurred. Because these cases are complex, working with an experienced medical malpractice attorney is essential.

What Compensation Is Available for Anesthesia Injuries?

Anesthesia-related injuries can lead to lifelong medical complications, requiring extensive treatment and ongoing care. Victims may be entitled to compensation for a variety of damages, including medical expenses, lost income and future earnings, pain and suffering, and loss of normal life. In worst-case scenarios, wrongful death damages may be available to family members of those who have died in tragic cases of anesthesia malpractice.

What Should I Do if I Had an Anesthesia-Related Injury?

If you think you may have suffered as a result of negligently administered anesthesia, you have options. You could, of course, do nothing; but if you have seriously suffered medical or financial losses, this is rarely the best option.

You could try negotiating with hospitals and insurance companies on your own, but this is a very challenging and complicated process. Insurance companies are in the business of making money and will do whatever they can to minimize payouts when they think they can get away with it. Indeed, studies have shown that, on average, people who have an attorney on their side during personal injury cases secure much larger settlements.

Your best option is to work with an experienced personal injury firm with a great reputation and a convincing case history. At Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, LLC, our firm has secured well over $100 million in verdicts and settlements, many for victims of medical malpractice. We have the experience and resources to take on complex anesthesia injury cases and hold negligent medical providers accountable.

Speak With a Chicago, IL Medical Malpractice Attorney Today

If you or a loved one suffered a serious anesthesia-related injury, you deserve justice. These cases require skilled legal representation from an aggressive, well-resourced team of Illinois personal injury lawyers to ensure you receive full and fair compensation. Contact Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, LLC at 312-605-8800 today to schedule a free consultation.