profession
Physician organizations file appeal in nurse anesthesia case
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 21, 2011
The California Medical Assn. and the California Society of Anesthesiologists are appealing a decision by a lower court allowing unsupervised nurse anesthetists to administer anesthesia.
In June 2009, Arnold Schwarzenegger, then governor, exempted the state from federal regulations requiring physician supervision of nurse anesthetists who administer anesthesia to patients during surgery. In 2010, the CMA and CSA attempted to block the rule with a lawsuit, but the San Francisco Superior Court sided with the state.
The two organizations filed an appeal on Jan. 31 with the State of California 1st Appellate District Division. They say anesthetists should be allowed to administer anesthesia only under the supervision of physicians. Patients face safety risks and decreased quality care under the existing rule, they said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/02/21/prbf0221.htm.