During surgical procedures that require general anesthesia, anesthesiologists will intubate a patient by sliding a plastic tube attached to a breathing machine into their airway. This ensures a fresh supply of oxygen while the patient is unable to breathe independently. Intubation may also be used in emergency situations involving severe respiratory distress. In either case, it can be crucial for preventing long-term and even life-threatening harm caused by anoxia or hypoxia in the brain and other internal organs.
However, as experienced surgical injury attorneys understand, the doctors responsible for intubating or monitoring intubated patients do not always meet the standard of care their training requires. If you suffered a serious injury caused by improper intubation, a Connecticut intubation complications lawyer from Berkowitz and Hanna LLC can help you understand your legal options and enforce your right to compensation.
A big reason why filing suit over medical malpractice is more complicated than suing over a car crash is that doctors are not held to the same legal standards as the average person. Instead of a generic duty of care which applies more or less equally to everyone, healthcare providers are subject to a standard of care explicitly based on what another physician with the same skills and experience would have done under the same circumstances and with the same information.
In practice, this means that doctors are given some legal leeway for minor errors that any doctor could have made, especially in very stressful working conditions, such as intubating a patient during a medical emergency inside a hectic emergency room. However, serious errors, particularly those occurring before, during, or after routine procedures, can still constitute malpractice. If you were harmed by this type of negligence, a Connecticut intubation complications attorney can help you effectively seek compensation.
Depending on the circumstances, the effects of an intubation complication can range from minor throat discomfort, sometimes caused by the end of the plastic breathing tube known as a laryngoscope blade scraping internal tissues, to severe brain injuries caused by prolonged oxygen deprivation. Accordingly, recoverable damages in lawsuits over intubation complications in Connecticut can vary widely, but they often include economic and non-economic forms of harm such as:
Our lawyers can help you better understand the types of losses you may be able to be compensated for.
No matter the reason for intubation, it is important that the doctors handle the procedure with care and professionalism. This includes properly placing, maintaining, and supervising the breathing tube throughout treatment. If you suffered preventable harm because your doctors failed to meet this basic standard of care, they should be the ones held financially responsible for the injuries and losses that followed.
Getting the compensation you need requires legal help. Call Berkowitz and Hanna LLC today to set up your free consultation with a dedicated Connecticut intubation complications lawyer.
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