A Canadian study published in the March issue of Anesthesiology found there was a higher frequency of litigation and a greater frequency of patient injury associated with litigations when the anesthesiologist was 65 or older.
According to Michael Tessler, MD, the study's lead investigator, the researchers observed a modest but significant increase in the rate of litigation among older anesthesiologists. In an accompanying editorial, Mark Warner, MD, immediate past president of the ASA, urged his colleagues to look at the complete picture before jumping to conclusions about the ability of older anesthesiologists to care for patients.
Dr. Tessler and his team used billing data for all procedures performed by specialist anesthesiologists separated into three age groups: less than 51 years old, 51-64 years old and 65 years old or older. The team also examined all lawsuits handled by the Canadian Medical Protective Association, where a board of experts considered the anesthesiologist to be at least partially responsible for adverse outcomes.
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According to Michael Tessler, MD, the study's lead investigator, the researchers observed a modest but significant increase in the rate of litigation among older anesthesiologists. In an accompanying editorial, Mark Warner, MD, immediate past president of the ASA, urged his colleagues to look at the complete picture before jumping to conclusions about the ability of older anesthesiologists to care for patients.
Dr. Tessler and his team used billing data for all procedures performed by specialist anesthesiologists separated into three age groups: less than 51 years old, 51-64 years old and 65 years old or older. The team also examined all lawsuits handled by the Canadian Medical Protective Association, where a board of experts considered the anesthesiologist to be at least partially responsible for adverse outcomes.
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Dexamethasone Effective Antiemetic for Patients Receiving Neuraxial Morphine