Intubation Errors Causing Permanent Disability

When a patient’s airway is compromised during surgery, trauma care, or critical illness, medical providers must act quickly and correctly. Intubation is a life-saving procedure — but when performed improperly or delayed, it can cause catastrophic harm. Cases involving airway mismanagement are often reviewed by a Phoenix medical malpractice lawyer, especially when oxygen deprivation leads to brain injury or lifelong impairment.

Intubation errors are preventable when a physician adheres to established medical standards. Unfortunately, failing to meet this standard of care can have permanent adverse consequences.

Common Causes of Intubation Errors

The most common cause of intubation errors occurs due to timing, when a medical provider fails to promptly identify a patient’s compromised airway and intubate them to restore oxygen flow. Delays in patient intubation account for 24% of claims. In other cases, the error occurs during intubation. Common causes of intubation mistakes include the following:

• Incorrect insertion of the ventilator tube resulting in damage to the trachea, vocal cords, and esophagus
• Tube disconnection
• Dislodged ventilator tube
• Inadequate equipment availability
• Improper assessment of oxygen levels during intubation
• Improper ventilator settings
• Alarm adjustment errors
• Failure to properly monitor an intubated patient
• Negligent communication of changes in patient status between the care team and the physician during insertion or ventilation

When an error occurs during the insertion or monitoring of an intubated patient, prolonged oxygen deprivation may lead to a hypoxic brain injury, with permanent impairment and disability.

How Does an Intubation Error Cause Permanent Disability?

Inserting a ventilator tube requires specialized knowledge, adherence to proper protocol, precision, and careful monitoring. When an error occurs, the results can be the following permanent injuries:

• Brain injury with cognitive impairment
• Stroke due to inadequate ventilation from respiratory system damage
• Trachea and vocal cord damage, requiring a permanent tracheostomy or permanent hoarseness
• Nerve damage, leading to loss of esophageal function, such as difficulty swallowing, chronic pain, or numbness
• Permanent damage to the teeth, tongue, or lips

When a medical provider’s negligence causes an intubation error, the impacts can leave the patient with the need for lifelong medical intervention, diminished earning capacity, pain, suffering, and catastrophic injury. These are the recoverable damages in a medical malpractice claim for an intubation error.

Proving Medical Malpractice For a Disabling Intubation Error

When medical malpractice leaves an intubated patient with a permanent disability, the injury victim has the right to pursue the compensation they deserve through a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor or the facility where the procedure occurred. Proving medical malpractice requires evidence showing that the responsible provider is legally liable due to the following:

• A doctor/patient relationship was in place at the time the malpractice occurred
• The provider had a duty to treat the patient at the standard of care accepted by the medical community
• They breached this duty through negligence
• The breach of duty caused injury to the patient
• The injury victim suffered damages from the injury

It takes a thorough investigation, access to medical experts, and a well-executed legal strategy to recover the full value of catastrophic damages after an intubation error causes permanent harm to a patient.

How Can a Medical Malpractice Attorney Help My Case?

If you or a close family member suffered a disabling injury due to improper intubation, you need a compelling claim to recover compensation. Reach out to the experienced medical malpractice law firm of Knapp & Roberts for a free, experienced evaluation of your medical malpractice case.