Page 9 - Part 1 Anesthesiology Common Risk Issues

SVMIC Anesthesiology: Common Risk Issues

Part One

Introduction

This course will examine the most frequent “errors” that either
cause or contribute to an anesthesia-related malpractice

claim, or make a claim less defensible. The course will suggest
key points to avoid these errors and improve patient safety,

and where possible, the course will incorporate checklists
and guidelines developed by professional societies and

organizations.

The first step to reduce liability risks is for the practitioner to

have an understanding of the history of anesthesia-related

injuries, as well as the mindset of the patient and the patient’s
family members. For many people, anesthesia remains one of
the scariest parts of surgery, despite the fact that surgery and

anesthesia are safer today than ever before thanks to continuing

advances in science and medicine. One reason for this fear is
that patients and their families are remembering a time not so
long ago when anesthesia was less safe. Only thirty years ago,

in 1990, deaths related to anesthesia statistically occurred in

two patients per 10,000 procedures; but by 2015, that number
had decreased to one anesthesia-related death per 200,000 to
300,000 procedures.
1

According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA),

“a person [today] is more likely to be struck by lightning than
die from anesthesia-related complications”, and a recent article
2
on WebMD states, “not only have errors become relatively

1 http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/ct-x-0111-anesthesia-safety-20120111-story.html
2 https://www.asahq.org/about-asa/newsroom/news-releases/2010/08/vital-health-2

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