Failure to Monitor Lawyers in Atlanta

Why Is Monitoring During and After Surgery Important?

Because a patient is very vulnerable during surgery, his or her vital signs must be monitored throughout a procedure. Monitoring before, during, and after surgery allows the surgical team to notice any problems developing so they can take quick action and resolve them.

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Before Surgery

Proper monitoring requires that the physician, and especially the anesthesiologist, be familiar with a patient’s full medical history. This is important because certain medical conditions, such as a history of seizures, obesity, high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, and adverse reactions to anesthesia are risk factors for complications during surgery. Diabetes, smoking, alcohol use, use of aspirin or herbs that can create thinning of the blood, drug allergies, and any history of lung, kidney, or heart issues are additional risk factors for surgery/anesthesia complications, and may require additional or more stringent monitoring of a patient.

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Monitoring During Anesthesia

The drugs used for anesthesia can affect the central nervous system, which controls important organs such as the heart and lungs. Anesthesia can also suppress breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure, and other body functions. Because of this, the anesthesia team must closely monitor a patient’s heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation.

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Proper Positioning Before Surgery and Positional Monitoring During Surgery

Because surgery requires a patient to be immobilized and stationary for an extended amount of time, surgical positioning is extremely important. Improper body positioning of a patient during a procedure can cause nerve damage, pressure ulcers (bedsores), circulatory issues, cell death, brain damage, severe blood loss, anesthesia errors, and other injuries. It is up to the surgical team to position the patient correctly, and with the proper padding, so that surgical positioning injuries are prevented. The surgical team may also be required to adjust a patient’s body position during a procedure to keep such injuries from occurring.

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Statute of Limitations for a Claim of Inadequate Monitoring in Georgia

The time limit for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in Georgia is generally two years from the date of the injury or death. However, in cases where the cause of the injury or death isn’t discovered until later, the time limit for filing a medical malpractice claim is two years from the date that the cause or injury was actually discovered, up to five years total in which to file a claim under Georgia’s statute of repose.

The statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims regarding children is slightly different. Claims for the injury or death of a child at any age under 5 years old can be filed any time before his or her 7th birthday.

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Contact an Atlanta Failure to Monitor Attorney at Grant Law Office

The husband and wife team of Wayne Grant and Kimberly W. Grant has many years of medical malpractice experience. Wayne Grant is board-certified in medical malpractice law by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys (ABPLA). He is also in the top 5% of attorneys in Georgia, as chosen by his peers and through independent research conducted by the publication Super Lawyers. Kimberly W. Grant is licensed to practice law in both North Carolina and Georgia. She has extensive medical knowledge and detective-like skill in finding the evidence that wins cases. Please contact us for a free consultation if you have questions: (404) 995-3955.

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Additional Information

• The Importance of Monitoring Blood While Using Coumadin (Warfarin)
• How Recovery in a Local Hospital’s ICU Results in Horror
• Medical Monitoring. What Is It, How Can It Be Improved?