Non-Anesthesia Professionals Can Now Administer Sedation Drugs

A recent article published reports that the Federal Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the governing body of medication in the United States, will now allow non-anesthesia professionals to administer certain drugs in colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy procedures when requirements are met.

SEDASYS®, the machine used to administer and monitor propofol during colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy procedures, delivers drugs to patients intravenously.The article states that this might be acceptable if a patient has a routine procedure and has fairly typical responses to anesthesia, but once there are complications, the skills and knowledge of a anesthesia professional are mandatory to treat the patient.

The medical malpractice team and attorneys at McEnery Price Messey & Sullivan offer these questions to ask your anesthesia team if they are using the SEDASYS® system for your procedure:

1. What is the level of training you have on this machine?
2. Have you experienced any incorrect medication dosing using this machine?
3. Is this machine maintained as suggested by manufacturer guidelines?
4. How often is the machine inspected for safety?

If you or a loved one was permanently injured, including death, after a surgical procedure, contact our office or find out if you have a medical malpractice case. Our team, including Bob Messey, MD/JD and Gayle Sullivan, RN/JD, will begin a medical and legal investigation into your claim.