ASA and MSA Urge Massachusetts Lawmakers to Retain Patient Safety Laws

On January 28,  American Society of Anesthesiologists’ (ASA) and Massachusetts Society of Anesthesiologists’ (MSA) physician leaders urged Massachusetts lawmakers to safeguard patients by continuing the state’s physician involvement laws for nurse anesthetists. ASA First Vice President Randall Clark, M.D., FASA joined MSA’s President Nicholas Kiefer, M.D. and President Elect Maitriyi Shah, M.D. in testifying against H.4134 before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. Drs. Clark, Kiefer, and Shah strongly urged the Joint Committee to vote against dangerous provisions in the measure that would eliminate longstanding physician involvement requirements for nurse anesthetists administering surgical anesthesia. The measure would authorize nurse anesthetists to practice without any physician involvement and have prescriptive authority after just two years of supervised practice by either a physician or another independent nurse anesthetist. H.4134 is of great concern for patient safety as it dismantles the current team-based model which has safeguarded Massachusetts surgical patients for decades.  

To protect patient safety in Massachusetts, ASA and MSA are monitoring the legislation closely and actively communicating with lawmakers throughout the legislature on this important measure. MSA members are encouraged to take action by clicking here to advocate for patient safety.