Jon Mani | November 13, 2026 | Medical Malpractice
The use of anesthesia is essential for numerous types of medical procedures. When not administered correctly, however, powerful anesthetics can cause serious harm, leading to all manner of health consequences. One of the most severe and irreversible injuries is brain damage.
If a loved one has undergone any type of procedure in which anesthesia was necessary, and they suffered a brain injury because of negligence, you may be entitled to begin a medical malpractice claim. Learn about how these injuries can occur and what they could mean for your loved one’s future.
How Anesthesia Could Result in Brain Damage
There are a few ways that anesthesia could cause brain damage, beginning with oxygen deprivation. It can occur if there are airway or intubation errors, such as blocked, improperly placed, or dislodged breathing tubes. If that’s the case, the oxygen will not reach the lungs as necessary, leading to less oxygen in the blood and throughout all tissues (hypoxia).
Anesthesia can slow and even stop breathing, which leads to low blood oxygen levels. If the person is not monitored and the issue isn’t addressed right away, the brain is deprived of oxygen. After just a few minutes of oxygen deprivation, the brain can experience irreversible cell death.
Additionally, anesthesia can cause blood pressure to drop. If it falls below what the body can sustain, the brain can suffer the same type of oxygen deprivation. Reduced circulation to the brain can also trigger strokes, which further disrupt the amount of blood going to certain regions of the brain. Permanent damage can occur.
Is It Medical Malpractice? Establishing Liability
If a loved one suffers an anesthesia injury, it’s common to think that you have a viable medical malpractice suit. That is not always the case, however.
To prove that you or your loved one’s injury is the result of malpractice, you must show that they suffered because of an anesthesia error. If the mistake could have been prevented and another provider would not have made it, then you could have a civil case on your hands. However, if the mistake was impossible to predict or prevent, it will likely not be considered negligence.
To establish liability, you must demonstrate that there was a patient-doctor relationship. After that, you have to show that the other party breached the duty they had to provide a reasonable standard of care. If they failed to do so and your loved one’s brain damage was the direct result of their conduct, it’s vital to speak with an attorney about pursuing a claim.
Obtaining Compensation After An Anesthesia Error
If you or a loved one suffered injuries because of an anesthesia error, you may be entitled to compensation through a medical malpractice claim.
Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to recover economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical expenses: Costs of hospitalization, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and other necessary treatments.
- Future medical care: Expenses related to ongoing treatment, long-term care, and medical equipment.
- Lost wages: Income lost while recovering from injuries caused by the anesthesia error.
- Loss of earning capacity: Compensation for a reduced ability to work and earn income in the future.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life.
- Loss of consortium: Compensation for the impact of the injury on a spouse or qualifying family relationship, where permitted by law.
Medical malpractice claims can be complicated and often require expert testimony to establish that a healthcare provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can investigate the error, gather evidence, and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Contact a Columbus Medical Malpractice Lawyer at Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one suffered brain damage because of an anesthesia error in Columbus, Ohio, Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers can help. Our experienced medical malpractice attorneys can investigate what happened, determine whether negligence played a role, and help you pursue compensation for your losses.
Contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your legal options.
We proudly serve clients throughout Franklin County from our Columbus, OH, office and throughout Kanawha County from our Charleston, WV, office.
Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers – Columbus, OH Office
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Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers – Charleston, WV Office
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About the Author
Jon Mani is a founding partner and personal injury attorney at Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers. With over 20 years of experience representing injured individuals in West Virginia and Ohio, Jon focuses on complex cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, nursing home abuse, catastrophic injuries, medical malpractice, and wrongful death. He is known for his strategic, hands-on approach to litigation and has held leadership roles within the legal community, including serving as President of the West Virginia Association for Justice. Click here to see some of the firm’s most notable case results.
Locations: Charleston, WV, and Columbus, OH
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