An anesthesiologist is a medical professional who administers painkillers and related medications to a patient. For instance, if a woman is giving birth and wants an epidural, an anesthesiologist will administer it through a needle that is inserted near the spine. If someone is in the hospital for heart surgery, the anesthesiologist will put them under so that the surgery can be performed, and then the patient will be woken up again. The specific medications used will be different from one procedure to another – some people are completely sedated, while others may just get localized painkillers.
But what happens during the surgery? The anesthesiologist will still be in the room, and they have a very important job. They are supposed to monitor the patient.
What are they looking for?
Essentially, the anesthesiologist just carries out a continual assessment during the surgery. They will monitor things that are considered vital functions.
For instance, they will look at the patient’s heart rate and their breathing. They may check the heart’s rhythm or keep an eye on the patient’s blood pressure. The anesthesiologist may be responsible for monitoring the body fluid balance or checking the body temperature periodically. They are also in control of consciousness and pain, so they keep a close eye on these factors.
As such, an anesthesiologist could be accused of medical malpractice for failing in these duties, even if they administer the painkillers successfully. If the anesthesiologist does not properly monitor the patient’s heartbeat, for instance, and the patient goes into cardiac arrest, that could be an example of medical malpractice. Those who have suffered harm or lost family members need to know exactly what legal options they have.
