Anaesthesia errors and compensation claims

It is possible to legally represent yourself when making a claim however, doing so successfully will likely require a thorough understanding of the law, your legal rights and entitlements, and a commitment to actively pursue the case to move it forward.   

Independent expert evidence is needed to progress your claim and this can be difficult for an individual to obtain. 

Without the right legal advice and support, you then may not receive the compensation you're entitled to.

With more than 40 branches across Australia and 1000+ team members, location is no barrier when it comes to accessing Shine Lawyers legal advice and support 

If you’d like to speak to our Medical Negligence team in person, you can see our full list of location here. 

If you aren‘t able to find a location near you, we can easily arrange an obligation-free virtual appointment or discuss the option to meet at a location that’s comfortable and convenient for you. No matter where you are located, we will always provide the same, expert advice and manage your claim with the same level of quality and commitment.

At Shine Lawyers, we put your first. We’ve been standing up for the rights of everyday Australians for over 45 years. As one of Australia’s largest litigation law firms, we are here to help you get the justice you deserve. 

Our empathy, understanding and expertise is why we’re ahead of the pack. We’ll stand with you and guide you through every step of the way. 

Anaesthetics are substances that temporarily reduce or take away pain and sensation. Often so that surgery or procedures that would otherwise be painful can be carried out. 

There are two types of anaesthetics that medical practitioners use;

• General, which makes someone unconscious

• Local, which numbs specific areas of the body

Anaesthesia can be roughly divided into four different categories: 

• Local anaesthesia – a local anaesthetic injected into the tissue below the skin, usually used for minor surgeries (during which the person is awake). 

• Regional anaesthesia – a local anaesthetic injected around nerve bundles to numb sensations in a larger area, such as the thigh or forearm. Epidurals are an example of regional anaesthesia. 

• Sedation – aims to relax the patient, making them sleepy and relaxed during a procedure. People often remember little of the experience afterwards. 

• General anaesthesia – Used for major surgeries/operations when a person needs to be unconscious. Requires an anaesthetist to monitor their condition while they’re ‘under’.

Anaesthetists are specialist medical professionals and thousands of patients are given anaesthetics across Australia every day. Mistakes are rare; however, they do occur. 

Some of the errors in anaesthesia include: 

• Not assessing the patient thoroughly before an operation, leads to incorrect doses or inappropriate drugs being used. 

• Causing damage while injecting the drug, leading to pain, nerve damage or paralysis 

• Failure to properly monitor a patient’s condition during and after anaesthesia. Changes in heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen flow from anaesthetics put some patients at risk of strokes and heart problems.