Anesthesia Error Attorney
We are dedicated to helping those who have been injured or affected by a catastrophic injury. You may contact us 24/7 at (832) 690-7000 for a free, confidential consultation or to schedule an appointment with us.
Anesthesia errors may be malpractice. Talk to a lawyer about what went wrong.
No one expects a routine medical procedure to end in permanent injury. But when something prevents the brain or heart from receiving enough oxygen under anesthesia, the effects can be irreversible.
If you're reading this, you may be asking:
- Was anesthesia the cause of my loved one's stroke or memory loss?
- Why did the surgical report say nothing about what happened?
- Should the breathing or medication equipment have prevented this?
At Pierce Skrabanek, we help individuals and families find those answers in cases where anesthesia errors may have resulted from medical negligence. These cases often involve:
- Failure to monitor vital signs,
- Improper drug dosing or preparation, or
- Airway management mistakes that led to oxygen deprivation.
Call (832) 690‑7000 or send us a message online to speak with an experienced anesthesia error lawyer.
“They took care of me from start to finish! I’m very pleased with my results. I will 100% recommend it to my friend's family or just another person who needs good help in a bad situation. Thank you to Paul and the whole team!”
— John J. | Client
How Anesthesia Errors Can Lead to Medical Negligence
Patients under anesthesia rely entirely on the care team to manage risks. That team is expected to monitor vital signs continuously and immediately act when something goes wrong.
Heart rate. Oxygen saturation. Carbon dioxide levels. Depth of sedation. These are measured on screen every second. But monitoring alone means little if staff doesn't respond when numbers fall.
An anesthesia error can begin with something as preventable as:
- Overdelivering a sedative dose without weight adjustment,
- Forgetting to turn alarms back on after silencing earlier alerts,
- Failing to check that the airway is still open and secure, or
- Missing signs that a patient isn't absorbing enough oxygen.
Our anesthesia errors law firm reviews how the care team responded and whether their actions met the standard of care. We assess whether anesthesia contributed to serious injury in procedures such as:
- General or laparoscopic surgery,
- Total joint replacements or orthopedic repair,
- C‑sections and labor with epidural or spinal blocks,
- Dental surgeries using IV sedation,
- Colonoscopies and endoscopy procedures, and
- Cosmetic or plastic surgery offered in outpatient clinics.
It doesn't require a high-risk operation for something to go wrong. When proper care isn't given during anesthesia, patients can leave with lifelong disabilities or may never wake up at all.
A 2022 study from the Anesthesia & Patient Safety Foundation found that nearly half of anesthesia incidents involving death or permanent injury were linked to patient monitoring failures or airway complications.
Signs of Injury Linked to Anesthesia Errors
The effects of an anesthesia error don't always appear in the operating room. In many cases, a patient is moved to recovery, and the signs of a serious complication emerge hours later.
Family members may notice:
- The patient is confused, agitated, or unable to recognize people;
- Speech is slurred, memory seems impaired, or vision is affected;
- One side of the body feels numb or is difficult to move;
- The patient is struggling to breathe or remains unusually drowsy; or
- Chest pain, nausea, or uneven heart rhythm suddenly develops.
These symptoms can indicate a significant injury, including:
- Hypoxic brain injury, caused by oxygen deprivation;
- Stroke, often related to blood pressure instability or airway issues;
- Cardiac arrest, due to improper mixing or dosing of anesthesia drugs;
- Lung damage from aspiration, if stomach contents entered the airway;
- Nerve injuries, including paralysis from an epidural or spinal block;
- Intraoperative awareness, where the patient recalls pain or pressure during surgery; or
- Wrongful death, in cases where staff failed to act despite signs of distress.
Some records describe the injury as an "unexpected complication" or "critical event," but do not explain what happened. When a patient has new cognition, breathing, or physical ability issues after surgery, those symptoms may point to an anesthesia error.
You may be entitled to significant compensation if you or a loved one was injured due to an anesthesia error. Contact an anesthesia errors lawyer at Pierce Skrabanek at (832) 690‑7000 to set up a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal rights.
What Can Cause Anesthesia Errors?
In our experience, anesthesia errors are often less about the drug itself and more about what wasn't monitored, corrected, or communicated during the surgery. We look closely at critical moments to determine what went wrong and why it wasn't fixed in time:
- Sedatives given without reviewing cross-reactions,
- Vitals missing or mischarted during intubation or induction,
- Airway tubes left unsecured after patient repositioning,
- Poor dosing decisions based on inaccurate weight or underlying conditions, or
- Recovery staff missing clear signs of oxygen debt.
Our attorneys work with independent anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, and surgical consultants to review records minute by minute. We focus on where care procedures broke down and how that may have changed the outcome.
"We advocate for clients whose lives were changed due to anesthesia errors and work to make sure it doesn't happen again."
— Michael Pierce | Founding Attorney
If you've been told it was "just a complication" and nothing more, there may still be answers. An experienced anesthesia error lawyer can help you get access to the records and review them with the proper medical oversight.
What Compensation Can Cover After an Anesthesia Error
Anesthesia errors often change what a person can do on their own. We've represented clients who needed help walking, speaking, or caring for themselves, sometimes for the rest of their lives. A claim can reflect those changes and the support now required.
Compensation may include:
- Medical treatment related to the anesthesia error;
- Therapy for memory, speech, or physical recovery;
- Home care or equipment for daily needs;
- Lost income and future earning ability; and
- Long-term physical limitations.
The claim may include funeral expenses if your family member didn't survive. In anesthesia error cases, the records sometimes mention a vague event but don't explain what went wrong.
A closer review by an anesthesia error attorney may show that no one responded when oxygen dropped, or that the airway wasn't secured after sedation began. Identifying those failures is part of how we build the claim.
A national survey by Martindale-Nolo found that people who hired a lawyer received nearly three times more than those who didn't. Our work in anesthesia-related cases has led to over $500 million in verdicts and settlements for individuals and families facing these kinds of life-altering injuries.
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Why Hire Pierce Skrabanek
For over 30 years, Pierce Skrabanek has been fighting for answers, accountability, and full compensation for those harmed by medical negligence. If your family has been affected by brain injury, respiratory failure, wrongful death, or other harm related to an anesthesia error, we are here to listen and ready to act.
Call (832) 690‑7000 or send a message online to speak directly with an anesthesia error attorney. There's no cost for an initial consultation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file an anesthesia error claim?
The time limit depends on the state where the injury occurred. Some states allow two years from the date of the incident, while others may allow more or less time. Speaking with an attorney as soon as possible is essential to protect your right to file.
What does it cost to hire an anesthesia error lawyer?
There's no upfront cost. Our firm works on a contingency basis, which means we only get paid if we recover compensation for you.
How do I know if what happened qualifies as medical negligence?
You don't have to know that on your own. That's what we investigate. We review the records, consult medical professionals, and determine whether the care failed to meet accepted standards.
Can I still bring a case if the patient had other health issues?
Yes. Pre-existing conditions don't excuse unsafe care. In many anesthesia error cases, the failure was not recognizing how those conditions increased the risk or ignoring warning signs altogether.
We’re Here for You:
Real Results for Real Challenges
We know how tough things can get after an injury. That’s why we make your struggles our fight. With over three decades of combined experience, we’ve been the reliable allies our clients need, tackling financial hardships, physical pain, and major life changes. Our track record of successful verdicts and settlements speaks to our team’s passion and dedication to helping clients get the support and justice they need.
Confidential Settlement in Medical Malpractice Case
Summary: Served as lead counsel in medical malpractice case involving allegations that the defendant failed to properly check placement of decedent’s peg tube prior to feeding, which resulted in peritonitis and sepsis. Plaintiff obtained a significant confidential settlement prior to trial.
$11.6 Million Catastrophic Injury Case
Summary: Mike Pierce was part of a trial team that obtained an $11.6 million jury verdict in a Houston, Texas claim. The case involved a worker who suffered a catastrophic injury that resulted in the loss of most of the sight in one of his eyes.
