Because anesthesiologists do not usually have a long term relationship with patients it is easier to get away for long vacations or for other reasons. Disadvantages Anesthesia is not as glamorous a specialty as, for example, cardiac surgery, obstetrics or emergency room medicine. It's unlikely there will be a hit TV series about an anesthesiologist. Because in some areas nurses, family doctors, and dentists are trained to give anesthetics, some people consider anesthesia a less demanding specialty than other fields of medicine. However, specialist anesthesiologists often deal with more difficult or demanding cases which would be beyond the capabilities of less trained people.
Anesthesiologists often have less patient contact than many other types of physician.
If you wish to have an ongoing long term relationship with your patients, other branches of medicine may be more suitable. However, in Intensive Care Units and Pain Clinics anesthesiologists do follow patients for weeks or months. In most countries, anesthesia is a medical specialty. Training as a doctor is required before training in anesthesia. In Canada, it is possible to train as a GP anesthesiologist in one year.