Medical malpractice lawsuit filed over alleged failed anesthesia

Imagine for a moment that you were to undergo surgery. You are worried anyway, wondering if everything will go as it should. As you go into surgery and the procedure begins, imagine that even though you were supposed to receive anesthesia — general anesthesia even — you didn’t. That is what one woman in Illinois is claiming in a medical malpractice lawsuit against a doctor, a physicians’ group and a hospital.

The woman, who was in the hospital in 2012 to give birth, alleges that she underwent a Cesarean section without being under any anesthesia during the surgery.

The lawsuit is asking for damages for severe pain and suffering, permanent damage, extreme mental anguish and disfigurement. The woman’s husband has also claimed that the negligent actions by the defendants have deprived him of love, consortium, companionship, support and services from his wife. The lawsuit against the defendants is asking for damages in excess of $75,000.

A medical malpractice case alleges that the physician, medical staff or medical facility was negligent in the care of a patient. In the medical field, there is a standard of care that must be met. This standard of care is defined as the level of care that another physician would provide in the same situation. When the standard of care is not met and the patient suffers injury, illness or death, a claim of medical malpractice may be made.

Attorneys can help victims of medical malpractice and their families understand how the civil court process works and what to expect if they choose to file a lawsuit.

Source: The Madison-St. Clair Record, “Med mal lawsuit alleging failed anesthesia during C-section transferred to Clinton County” Heather Isringhausen Gvillo, Feb. 06, 2015