Lethal Injection

n June 30, a message from ASA President Orin F. Guidry, M.D., was posted on the ASA Web site in response to the Missouri court’s lethal injection decision that requires very specific tasks to be carried out by anesthesiologists.

The message prompted numerous requests for interviews with Dr. Guidry, which were featured in a variety of major media outlets throughout North America, including the Associated Press, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Boston Globe, and CBC-Radio in Toronto.

Anesthesiologist Humanitarian of the Year in New Orleans

ames M. Riopelle, M.D., received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Humane Society of Lousiana, and was featured in a June 8 New Orleans Times-Picayune article for his efforts to care for 70 stranded animals following Hurricane Katrina. In the article, Dr. Riopelle recalled the four days spent without power or running water caring for the animals at Lindy Boggs Medical Center in New Orleans.

Increased Use of Epidurals Explored

May 28 Chicago Sun-Times article focused on the decrease of natural births and the prevalence of epidurals given to women during labor at American hospitals and included quotes from David E. Young, M.D., and Brenda A. Bucklin, M.D. A study on the association between early epidurals and increased risks of C-sections led by Cynthia A. Wong, M.D., was also referenced in the article.

All Pain Is Not Equal

armen R. Green, M.D., was quoted in a June 12 Arizona Republic article on disparities in pain care. Dr. Green also spoke on the topic at the 17th annual meeting of the American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives, held June 15-17 in Phoenix.

Battle-Tested Anesthesia

he June 13 Wall Street Journal included the article “Pain Pump Tested in Battle,” featuring Lt. Col. Chester Buckenmaier, M.D., and Kevin Sanborn, M.D. The article focused on how Lt. Col. Buckenmaier, an Army anesthesiologist, brought infusion pumps into the field while deployed to Iraq three years ago. Dr. Sanborn is quoted in the article because of his special expertise in using nerve blocks for regional anesthesia.

Tune In or Turn It Off?

he June 13 edition of The New York Times included a letter to the editor from Michael F. Aziz, M.D., in response to a June 10 article on the role of music in the operating room. In the letter, Dr. Aziz points out that anesthesiologists are asked to prevent the rare occurrence of awareness under anesthesia, and wonders if music in the O.R. impedes the anesthesiologist’s ability to keep patients asleep and unaware.