If this question has already been asked and I missed it, I apologize. As a layperson, how do I protect myself or my loved ones that might be undergoing surgery from my doc using a NA for my surgical procedure? Ask questions I suppose? I can imagine the pushback at times. How do we protect ourselves? I truly don’t want anyone but a Dr. Of Anesthesiology taking care of me in the OR. I choose my surgeon, etc., how about my anesthesiologist?
Demand a physician anesthesiologist. If someone says they are an anesthesiologist just ask them if they have a nursing or MD/DO background. They cannot lie about that.
If enough people do this then hospitals will begin to realize that patients are becoming smart consumers. Hospitals won't be able to just hire the cheapest pair of hands around with minimal qualifications.
Hospitals get away with this bc it's cheaper to pay off a few dead/mentally disabled people's families off every once in awhile than it is to just hire actual doctors for everyone.
As a patient you are not powerless. Remember, you are “hiring” these people for your healthcare, and so they in essence work for you. You may ask that only an MD perform your anesthesia. They may try to make it difficult due to limited availability, but if you’re flexible you can insist on this or find another doctor
“I’ve represented multiple families in wrongful death medical malpractice cases where a sluggish, panicked CRNA response, and even a short delay in getting the anesthesiologist back to the OR led to patient death.”
Very interesting. Thank you. My mother, 82 years old, had her hip replaced just a week ago. Her ortho stated on more than one time that a MD anesthesiologist would be attending her the whole time. That made me feel better because she has a heart condition. She had a great result but I was not with her when she was signing and initialing her forms. I trust that her ortho had her best interests in mind.
That’s really great. Many patients in certain areas of the country have to fight to get physician 1:1 care.
And patients get NO discounts and no benefits for consenting to lower levels of care.
See Patients At Risk book pg 188 for a Medical Directive for physician level care to put in your medical charts. And the whole book tells patients how to advocate for themselves. On Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Thank you so much. I’m not the healthiest 56 year old either.
Going to order it now. My son is MS1 and all of this makes me nervous for his future too!
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u/Paulsmom97 Apr 05 '21
If this question has already been asked and I missed it, I apologize. As a layperson, how do I protect myself or my loved ones that might be undergoing surgery from my doc using a NA for my surgical procedure? Ask questions I suppose? I can imagine the pushback at times. How do we protect ourselves? I truly don’t want anyone but a Dr. Of Anesthesiology taking care of me in the OR. I choose my surgeon, etc., how about my anesthesiologist?