In a letter to the New York Times, David Farris, MD, expressed concern with describing anesthesia as a "drug-induced coma" to patients, even if the description is medically accurate.
Dr. Farris agreed with the position of Emery N. Brown, MD, professor of anesthesiology at Harvard Medical School, that describing anesthesia as "putting someone to sleep" does a disservice to both patients and anesthesiologists. However, Dr. Farris said when he has described anesthesia as a "coma" to his patients, responses have "bordered on fear, sometimes with expressions suggesting they'd like another doctor." He said reception is somewhat better with school-age children.
Read the New York Times letter from Dr. Farris.
Read more on anesthesia:
-First U.S. Death Row Inmate to Be Executed Solely With Anesthetic
-ASA President Dr. Mark Warner Discusses Evolution of Anesthesia Safety
-Montana Anesthesiologist Gets Three Years Probation for Prescription Fraud
Dr. Farris agreed with the position of Emery N. Brown, MD, professor of anesthesiology at Harvard Medical School, that describing anesthesia as "putting someone to sleep" does a disservice to both patients and anesthesiologists. However, Dr. Farris said when he has described anesthesia as a "coma" to his patients, responses have "bordered on fear, sometimes with expressions suggesting they'd like another doctor." He said reception is somewhat better with school-age children.
Read the New York Times letter from Dr. Farris.
Read more on anesthesia:
-First U.S. Death Row Inmate to Be Executed Solely With Anesthetic
-ASA President Dr. Mark Warner Discusses Evolution of Anesthesia Safety
-Montana Anesthesiologist Gets Three Years Probation for Prescription Fraud