While I would hope to see an absence of error in anesthesia administered by CRNAs, I know that this cannot and will not happen. Anesthetists, both CRNAs and anesthesiologists, are human. Anesthesia requires great effort, concentration, and organization, and occasionally there are lapses. What is upsetting is that when a CRNA makes an error, the automatic response is anesthesiologist supervision or replacement. When an anesthesiologist makes an error, there is no similar or corresponding outcry.
Anesthesiologists are human and make errors too.
They suffer from the same problems as CRNAs. They lose concentration in the alternating boredom and terror of the operating room. They become confused. They do things they should know they should not, and they neglect to do things they should know they should. Of course not, but surgeons, malpractice attorneys, administrators, and critics must recognize that while any anesthesia mishap is a tragedy and should have been avoided, mistakes are made by all anesthetists.