Anesthesia makes modern surgery possible, but it carries serious risks when it is not administered and monitored carefully. An anesthesia error can deprive the brain of oxygen, trigger a dangerous reaction, or cause permanent injury or death in a matter of minutes. Our Illinois anesthesia error lawyers represent patients and families harmed by mistakes before, during, or after anesthesia. This is one part of our broader Illinois medical malpractice practice.
Anesthesia errors can occur at any stage of care. The most serious include:
Because anesthesia affects breathing, circulation, and consciousness, errors often cause the most severe outcomes. A period of oxygen deprivation can result in a permanent brain injury, organ damage, or death. These are precisely the life-altering cases our firm focuses on, and they frequently overlap with our catastrophic injury work.
As with any Illinois medical malpractice claim, your attorney must file an affidavit and a written report from a qualified health professional confirming a reasonable and meritorious basis for the case (735 ILCS 5/2-622). The claim must generally be brought within two years of discovery and no more than four years after the act or omission (735 ILCS 5/13-212). We work with anesthesiologists and other experts to establish exactly where the care fell below the standard.
Illinois does not cap medical malpractice damages, following Lebron v. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital (2010). Compensation may cover medical care, long-term and in-home care, lost earnings, and pain and suffering, and a wrongful death claim when an error proves fatal. If you believe an anesthesia error caused serious harm to you or a loved one, contact Collins Law Group for a free, confidential consultation. There is no fee unless we win.
Common errors include giving too much or too little anesthetic, failing to monitor oxygen levels and vital signs, intubation mistakes, failing to review a patient’s history for drug interactions or allergies, and anesthesia awareness, where a patient regains awareness during surgery. These can cause brain injury, organ damage, or death.
When the brain is deprived of oxygen for even a few minutes, brain cells begin to die. Undetected airway or oxygenation problems under anesthesia can cause a hypoxic brain injury, leading to lasting cognitive, motor, or developmental impairment.
Generally two years from when you knew or should have known of the injury, with an outer limit of four years from the negligent act under 735 ILCS 5/13-212. Consult a lawyer promptly because the deadline can be shorter in some situations.
Yes. Illinois requires an affidavit and a written report from a qualified health professional confirming the claim has merit under 735 ILCS 5/2-622. We secure that review as part of evaluating your case.
No. The Illinois Supreme Court eliminated caps on non-economic damages in Lebron v. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital (2010), so compensation is based on the full extent of the harm caused.
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