April 14, 2009

 

Louisiana Courts Determined Interventional Pain Management Not Within Scope of Practice of Nurse Anesthetists

The Louisiana Supreme Court has denied the nurses’ (Louisiana State Board of Nursing, Louisiana Association of Nurse Anesthetists/ American Association of Nurse Anesthetists) petition to review the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal’s decision that was issued in January (http://www.asahq.org/news/asanews010609.htm).  This means that the permanent injunction issued by the First Circuit Court of Appeal is now final.  ASA filed amicus curiae briefs in support of plaintiff Spine Diagnostics Center of Baton Rouge, Inc and intervenor, the Louisiana Society of Anesthesiologists.

Therefore, the Louisiana courts have concluded that:

• The practice of interventional pain management is not the scope of practice of a nurse anesthetist.
• The practice of interventional pain management is solely the practice of medicine.
• The advisory opinion issued by the nursing board is an effort to substantively expand nurse anesthetist scope of practice and is an improper attempt at rule making.
• A permanent injunction issue prohibiting the nursing board from enforcing the statement.

Congratulations to all involved in this monumental win, especially the Louisiana Society of Anesthesiologists.