Anesthesiologists are critical to the healthcare system as they make it possible for patients to undergo surgeries and other procedures. This medical practice area involves carefully assessing each patient’s situation and making numerous decisions regarding the right type and dosage of anesthesia that is appropriate for a given situation. This is a high-risk profession, as many anesthesiologists face malpractice allegations when something goes wrong. It is important for everyone involved that anesthesiologists are at the top of their game whenever they are working with patients.

Anesthesiologists need to be cognitively sharp, as well as have full functioning and control of their hands, as they must inject anesthesia into patients. Many factors can lead to mistakes, including fatigue, intoxication, or disabilities. If you are diagnosed with a physical or mental disability, it can often impair your ability to continue working as an anesthesiologist. You might need to take several weeks or months off, or it might be possible that you can never work in this profession again. When this happens, you can lose significant income, as the median salary for an anesthesiologist is just under $400,000 per year. It is important that you receive full disability benefits to ensure you can pay your bills.