Celebrate Doctors Day 2008 on March 30

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) will join communities across the United States to celebrate Doctors Day on March 30.

While physicians in all specialties and in primary care are honored, Doctors Day was first observed in recognition of the efforts of one physician whose endeavors relate specifically to the specialty of anesthesiology.

Doctors Day marks the date that Crawford W. Long, MD, of Jefferson, Ga., administered the first ether anesthetic for surgery on March 30, 1842. On that day, Long administered ether anesthesia to a patient and then operated to remove a tumor from the man’s neck. Later, the patient would swear that he felt nothing during the surgery and wasn’t aware the surgery was over until he awoke

Doctors Day celebrates Long’s historic achievement and the continued efforts of physicians to alleviate human suffering and improve patient safety. This year’s celebration marks the 50th anniversary of the national recognition of Doctors Day.

"Without the efforts of Long, modern medicine and surgery as we know it would not exist," said ASA president Jeffrey L. Apfelbaum, MD. "Anesthesiologists have continued to make medical and research advances, creating a specialty comprised of highly trained physicians who serve as patient advocates throughout surgery from preanesthesia evaluation to recovery. Anesthesiologists often serve as the primary physician in pain medicine and critical care medicine and as lead consultants in a multitude of subspecialty areas including obstetrics, neurosurgery, interventional medicine, interventional pediatrics, and cardiothoracic surgery."

Focused on patient safety and innovative care, ASA was the first medical specialty society to develop and adopt standards of care for its members as early as 1986. Today, more than 30 standards, guidelines and statements and more than 10 evidence-based practice parameters have been developed by ASA to address monitoring standards during surgery, as well as anesthesiologists' direct involvement in patient care and pain management before, during and after surgery.

On Doctors Day, ASA encourages its members to educate colleagues, patients and the public about Doctors Day and the contributions of anesthesiologists to the safety and well-being of patients.

Source: American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)

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