Key Takeaways:
- Ignored Chart Warnings: Failing to review severe allergy and adverse drug reaction alerts in an electronic medical record is a catastrophic breach of care.
- Preventable Cardiac Arrest: Re-administering a known, dangerous sedative can trigger immediate, fatal medical crises like brain swelling and septic shock.
- Clear Physician Liability: When medical records prove a specialist completely disregarded clear protocol warnings, there is no viable legal defense for the error.
Case Study: Fatal Medication Error and Anesthesia Malpractice
This terribly sad case involves our client receiving anesthesia (Propofol) that stopped her heart. She had previously undergone a routine procedure and received Propofol, which caused a potentially fatal adverse reaction that caused her heart to stop beating. Thankfully, she was successfully revived. A severe allergic reaction warning was added to her chart so she would not receive Propofol again in any future procedures.
She returned to the hospital seven months later for another routine procedure, the anesthesiologist did not see or follow the severe allergy warning for Propofol, and he administered it anyway. Not surprisingly, our client suffered immediate cardiac arrest, and she was resuscitated. However, she suffered significant brain swelling that eventually caused her death.
Given the terrible liability for the doctor, the case resolved for a very large confidential amount after litigation established that that he did not obey the severe allergy warning in the electronic medical record and had no real defense to the incident.
Our Orlando Legal Team Holds Negligent Anesthesiologists Accountable
Electronic medical records are designed specifically to protect patients from known, life-threatening medication cross-reactions. When an advanced medical specialist fails to perform basic chart due diligence before administering powerful sedatives, it constitutes clear, indefatigable medical negligence.
If you or a loved one has suffered severe injuries or wrongful death due to suspected anesthesia malpractice in Central Florida, you deserve a legal advocate who knows how to audit medical logs and establish absolute accountability. Contact the experienced trial attorneys at Warner & Warner today at 321-972-1889 or review our other successful surgeon malpractice cases to schedule your free, confidential consultation.