Evening star., 1951-11-27
Georgetown u.
Facing Cutbdck
lin Surgery
Mass designations
Of Anesthetists Moy
| CurtuiI Services

FHealSIldtloIlS III LIle CeOTgeLOWn
University Hospitals anesthesio-
logical service-resulting from q
complex disagreement with hospi-
tai oftlcials-may result in at least
a temporary cutback In the
amount of surgery at the hospital,
it was indicated today.
However, it was learned a group
Of Washington anesthesia special
lists may propose stop-gap meas
ures to offset vacancies created
by the designations of the service
chief and nine young doctors in
resident training.
The chief, DR.. Edward B. 1uohy,
nationally known authority in the
field, resigned last week after
heading the service for more than
tour years. The nine residents, all
studying the speciality under DR..
Tuohy, have submitted resigna-
tions to become effective after
Friday, they said.
Assistant Remains.
The designations would leave
only DR.. Theodore Guther, DR..
Tuchy's former assistant, who has
been named acting chief, on the
hospitals salaried anesthesia staff.
DR., Gunther told a reporter he
could make no comment on his
future status.
Doctors questioned about the
Georgetown situation, meanwhile,
said it represents a significant de-
velopment in Nationwide issues
revolving around the practice of
anesthesiology in hospitals.
The designations, the threat of
a surgery cutback and the move of
private anesthesiologists were dis
cussed last night at an open meet
ing of the anesthesiology section
OF the District Medical Society.
The groups discussion subject,
announced long in advance, con-.
cerned the Importance of training
programs in anesthesia.
Several of the Georgetown resi-
dents, as well as DR.. Gunther, at.
tended the session. DR.. Tuohy has
been in California since last week.
Says Proposals Rejected.
Explaining the background of
the designations. one resident, who
asked that his name not be used,
said DR.. Tuohy left because hos
Ipital authorities would not agree
to proposals he had submitted
about the conduct of the anes-
thesia service.
| Among them. he said, was q
demand that considerable per-
centage" Of the money patients
pay for anesthesia be turned back
for further development of the
anesthesia service. Included, he
said, would be money for more
trained men, research projects
and increased pay for workers in
the service.
DR.. Tuohy. the resident said,
also had waged a fight to replace
Georgetown's system of a salaried
staff OF trained anesthetists with
a private fee" system.
This fight, doctors told a re-
porter, is being carried on ma
tionaly by anesthesiologists, who
argue that they should have the
right to enter hospitals as private
doctors, serve private patients and
bill them, much as surgeons do.
They contend also that this as
sures patients that anesthesia is
administered by trained special
lists.
Big Profits Cited.
This system is followed in many
hospitals. the doctors said. But
they charged that other hos
pitals-plagued by deflcits-insist
on salaried services from which
they realize big profits. The same
battle. these doctors said, is be-
ing waged around the issue of
whether hospitals should operate
Laboratories and X-ray depart
ments with salaried doctors.
Several doctors, however, told
a reporter they understood that
medical leaders felt university
hospitals. because of their large
teaching programs. should be
exempt from the proposal to ban
salaried doctors.
! The Georgetown resident told
the session last night that DR.,
Tuohy had offered to "compro-
mise" on some of the proposals,
but that he was not willing to
meet those put forth by hospital
officials.
He stressed that DR.. Tuohy did
not ask for a pay increase for
himself, but did propose more
money for DR.. Gunther and the
residents. Part of the proposal,
he said. was that the residents,
who are paid between S25 and SIS
a month. be given 5000.
Staff Held Inadequate.
The resident said his group felt
that DR.. Tuohy's departure left
an inadequate staff to supervise
their training.
Beyond that. he added, "Dr.
Tuohy has inculcated in us prin-
ciples for which we are thankful"
The Georgetown residents pres
ent, however, expressed concern
about leaving the adesthesia serv-
ice uncovered - especially for
emergency cases. Unless there is
some guarantee that coverage will
be provided. one of them said,
I'VE will stay and do it ourselves"
The resident added that the
hospital had not scheduled cleo
tive mon emergency surgery
cases beyond Friday.
Asked to comment, DR.. Gunther
told the group it was hoped that
private anesthesiologists would
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