Page 41 - Part 1 Anesthesiology Common Risk Issues

SVMIC Anesthesiology: Common Risk Issues

CASE STUDY

continued
patient’s mother filed a lawsuit against the surgeon, the

anesthesiologist, and the surgical center. The case was
settled in mediation for seven figures. A

primary factor in the decision to settle
the case was the anesthesiologist’s

unprofessional text comment.

The best practice is to always keep the wording of your

communication appropriate and respectful even if you think no
one else is going to see it other than the intended recipient. A
good rule of thumb is, “would I want this communication to be

viewed by twelve jurors on a six-foot screen at my malpractice

trial?” If the answer is “No,” do not hit the SEND button.

CRNA Oversight

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are anesthesia

professionals who administer anesthesia and perform many
of the same responsibilities as anesthesiologists. In some
15
states, CRNAs are permitted to work independently without

physician supervision. However, other states require physician
16
supervision.

Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on your perspective),

the law is often slow to catch-up to the realities of the
marketplace. This is true with respect to the liability of

15 Approximately 45 million anesthetics are administered to patients each year in the United States by
CRNAs, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) 2018 Practice Profile
Survey. https://www.aana.com/membership/become-a-crna/crna-fact-sheet
16 https://www.aana.com/membership/become-a-crna/crna-fact-sheet

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