Needing surgery can be a scary and stressful experience for anyone. When it’s a parent watching their child go into surgery, it can be downright terrifying. You’re depending upon the skill and experience of the medical staff to ensure your child comes out safely. But does that staff include a qualified anesthesiologist?
Is there a pediatric anesthesiologist in your area?
Anesthesia is a sub-category of medicine in general – pediatric anesthesia is a sub-category of general anesthesia. Not every doctor who is trained in general anesthesia is also trained in pediatric anesthesia. And because of the natural physical differences between children and adults, how anesthesia is administered to children can differ significantly to that of adults.
The problem is that millions of children do not live near a pediatric anesthesiologist and, therefore, may be at greater risk for anesthesia errors. Pediatric anesthesiologists tend to cluster more in and around urban centers, with less of a presence in rural communities. This gap in pediatric anesthesiologist availability can be particularly concerning when emergencies arise, requiring pediatric surgery by what staff is available, rather than what staff may be best for the child.
Pediatric anesthesia errors can be very dangerous, with such medical malpractice mistakes injuring children and even putting their lives at risk. Everything from dosage errors to harmful drug interactions can put a child in danger, for no reason other than the anesthesiologist isn’t qualified to properly administer anesthesia. If you suspect your child has been the victim of improper anesthesia, seek the assistance of a knowledgeable professional who is experienced in medical malpractice cases.