A California court last week ruled that nurses trained to administer anesthetics can give them to patients without physician supervision, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report.
Nurses' organizations said that the ruling would lower costs and increase the availability of procedures requiring anesthesia. The California Medical Association, representing 35,000 physicians, argues that physician supervision is necessary to ensure patient safety but has not yet decided whether to appeal the ruling.
The court's decision is particularly impactful in rural areas, where it is common for nurses to administer anesthesia under a physician's orders but without direct
supervision.
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The court's decision is particularly impactful in rural areas, where it is common for nurses to administer anesthesia under a physician's orders but without direct
supervision.
Related Articles on Anesthesia:
Medicare Updates of Interest to Anesthesiologists and Pain PhysiciansAnesthesiologist Survey: Concern Over Blame From Colleagues a Barrier to Reporting Errors
Anesthesiologist Appointed to Medical College of Wisconsin Faculty