profession
California nurse anesthetists don’t need doctor supervision, court rules
Posted April 23, 2012
A California appeals court has ruled that certified registered nurse anesthetists can work without physician supervision. The March 15 decision by the 1st District Court of Appeal affirms an October 2010 ruling in San Francisco County Superior Court.
The rulings stem from a lawsuit by the California Medical Assn. and the California Society of Anesthesiologists that sought to block former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s decision to opt out of a Medicare provision that requires doctor supervision of nurses administering anesthesia.
Physician organizations say the rulings jeopardize patient safety. The CSA and CMA announced April 9 that they will ask the California Supreme Court to review the case, and they are urging medical staffs to establish bylaws to require physician supervision.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/04/23/prbf0423.htm.
