Dr. MC Gupta takes up another query, this time as to whether it is medicolegally right for an anaesthetist to hand over a patient to another anaesthetist in the middle of surgery, especially if the new specialist was not present from the start of the surgery.

1612--QUESTION—Is it OK medico-legally that when the patient is on the operation table, the anaesthetist who started the anaesthesia hands over the case midway to another anaesthetist who was expected to be present from the beginning but was not available initially?

ANSWER:

1—In theory, there is no illegality involved as long as there was proper handing taking over (also, explaining in writing the reason for such handing-taking over) with the necessary documentation.

2—It would be prudent to avoid such a situation because it is an uncommon situation that unnecessarily puts the focus and blame upon the anaesthetist in case of a mishap.

3—It should be ensured that consent for the anaesthesia/anaesthetist is taken and recorded.

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The writer, Dr. MC Gupta is a practising lawyer specialising in medical negligence cases. He also has an MD Medicine from AIIMS, Delhi where he also worked as a faculty member for 18 years, later working another 10 years as a Professor and Dean at National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, before pursuing law.