Washingtonians Overwhelmingly Want Anesthesiologists to Oversee Nurse Anesthetists and Respond to Emergencies to Ensure Patient Safety
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)When informed of the background, education, and training of an anesthesiologist versus a nurse anesthetist, people living in Washington, D.C. want anesthesiologists to administer anesthesia during surgery. The District of Columbia Society of Anesthesiologists (DCSA) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) strongly oppose Council Bill 25-545 that would eliminate the long-established requirement that a physician oversee anesthesia administered by nurse anesthetists and would allow these nurses to perform pain medicine procedures. Council Bill 25-545 jeopardizes the safety of Washington, D.C. patients who need anesthesia care. Bill 25-545 is scheduled for mark up in the Committee on Health at 3:00 pm on Thursday, March 21.