Medical Malpractice Alert: The Dangers of Sleep Apnea

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Medical Malpractice Alert: The Dangers of Sleep Apnea

Recently, we have seen a number of medical malpractice cases in Ohio arising out of a physician’s failure to protect a patient from consequences of sleep apnea.  Sleep apnea occurs when a person experiences abnormal pauses in breathing, or abnormally low breathing, during sleep. Each pause in breathing can last from a few seconds to minutes, and may occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour, thereby depriving the body of its usual supply of oxygen.  Sleep apnea increases the patient’s risk for a number of medical conditions and complications.  When a doctor fails to account for sleep apnea in their treatment plan, disastrous results from medical negligence may occur.

Sleep apnea is associated with an ever-increasing list of medical c