Hawaii news reports that a young woman remains in a coma following a dental procedure. The woman saw a dentist to have her wisdom teeth removed, but failed to wake up after receiving anesthesia. She remains in a coma and on a breathing machine at the Maui Medical Center. Doctors report that her brain remains swollen.
While an investigation into this case has just begun, several questions have already been raised concerning the actions surrounding the procedure, including whether approppriate standards of care were followed or if other factors were involved leading to the accident.
Dental negligence is a form of medical malpractice and applies where individuals are injured or become ill as the result of a practitioner's recklessness or carelessness. Further, negligence or carelessness can often result in anesthesia mistakes such as failing to properly evaluate a patient before administering anesthesia, improperly administering too much anesthesia, or too little, failing to properly monitor a patient or not providing the patient with adequate instructions prior to the procedure. Other issues may arise from drug interactions or improperly maintained or broken equipment. When anesthesia errors occur, the results can be significant and may include:
- Coma
- Paralysis
- Heart attack
- Brain injury
- Birth defects
- Death
If you or a loved one were injured by an anesthesia error it's a good ideas to consult with a Hawaii personal injury attorney right away.
The investigation into this matter continues and it is unknown whether negligent or careless actions played a role in the outcome.
If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of dental malpractice, or the use of anesthesia in any context, please contact the Hawaii anesthesia error attorneys at Bostwick & Peterson immediately to discuss your next steps.
