Page 48 - 2022 Risk Basics - Anesthesiology

SVMIC Risk Basics: Anesthesiology

anesthesiologist; (ii) A doctor of medicine or osteopathy

other than an anesthesiologist; including an osteopathic
practitioner; (iii) A doctor of dental surgery or dental

medicine; (iv) A doctor of podiatric medicine; (v) A certified

registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA); (vi) An
anesthesiologist’s assistant; or (vii) A supervised trainee in

an approved educational program. (2) In those cases in
which a CRNA administers the anesthesia, the anesthetist

must be under the supervision of the operating practitioner

unless the state has opted out. An anesthesiologist’s
assistant who administers anesthesia must be under the

supervision of an anesthesiologist.

(d) Discharge. All patients are discharged in the company
of a responsible adult, except those exempted by the

practitioner who performed the surgical procedure.

For anesthesiologists who are supervising CRNAs, the primary
factor making a malpractice case “indefensible” is lack of

communication. The types of communication breakdowns
often seen between the CRNA and supervising physician

include: failure to develop an anesthesia plan, delegation of

duties that should not be delegated, unavailability of the
supervising physician, CRNA’s failure to timely request help,

and misunderstanding as to medicine, dosage, technique,

allergies, etc.

The following case study illustrates the type of communication

claims that can be asserted when there is a breakdown

between the anesthesiologist and the patient, especially when

Page | 48