Dr. Abergel "supposed CRNA-basher" wrote to me...

Published

Here is the e-mail is sent him:

Subject: TOTAL UNTRUTH

Dr. Abergel,

I have enjoyed Vogue magazine for many years. I was quite upset when you slandered the profession of Nurse Anesthesia - a profession where safety and patient care are foremost matters. I will not be purchasing any more copies of this magazine, and I am considering writing to the editor of Vogue and to the AANA. It's ridiculous that as a surgeon, you have to bash CRNAs to try to bring in more bu$ine$$. If this is the case, I hope the effort fails.

-------------------------------------------------------

Here is his response:

Dear Kelly Kaufman,

Unfortunately, the comment published in Vogue is being taken out of context

and does not represent the full scope of my beliefs. I wanted to emphasize

anesthesia should not be performed by the surgeon or by unqualified

assistants. Rather, anesthesia should be administered by professionals

trained in the field of anesthesia, whether it is a Nurse Anesthetists or a

Physician Anesthesiologist.

I had no control over the editing of this article. I have high regard for

the profession of Nurse Anesthetists. My comments in no way were intended

to undermine your valuable contribution to the field of health care. I

apologize if that is the way it has been perceived by the article.

Best Regards,

R. Patrick Abergel, M.D.

**********UPDATE**********

This letter has been received by others who e-mailed him. :angryfire

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pretty cool

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The same letter has been received by several others who wrote to him. His public relations firm probably wrote it. At least he responded, but the damage has been done.

We took Vogue out of our waiting room at two of the Plastic Surgeon's offices where I work. I have sent a letter to a company that does a lot of advertising in Vogue and expressed my concern that they would advertise in a magazine that does not check facts before printing articles. I told them that I would no longer purchase their products, nor would I recommend them to my patients. I have sent a communication to a Beverly Hills cosmatologist who is frequently quoted in Vogue. She was very upset, seeing that she has had CRNA anesthesia. She is planning to notify her contact at Vogue, but told me that we should hit the advertisers. Money talks.

Yoga CRNA

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Yeah, I thought the guy might be quoted out of context. Maybe he's covering himself but, it seemed to be really out there for anyone with any knowledge of anesthesia to say something like that. And, it makes sense that a fluff magazine like Vogue would get it wrong.

:eek:

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It would be nice if he'd write to Vogue with a statement to clarify his views. It wouldn't be the first time that's been done. Usually the publication will print it in the letters section with a comment from their editors and an apology.

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The same letter has been received by several others who wrote to him.

Now that really irks me. I'm glad you've got connections, Yoga. There is strength in numbers, and it would make a difference if we all wrote to Vogue.

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I got the same form letter reply i posted it on the other thread. along with my letter.

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a few points...yeah, the letter he sent sounds good - but go to his website - it is completely pro "physician" anesthesiologist...he is very adamant on clarifying "physician" - which by itself is no biggie - add it to his "statement"..........

secondly - ok - so he's stupid...what about vogue printing such rubbish as fact??? our entire class is (every one independently) writing letters to vogue...although CRNA's are a mix of male/femal - nursing in general is still a rather woman dominated profession - this is a supposed pro-woman magazine...are they idiots???? i say make them do a little work and help promote the profession of nurse anethetists...here is my letter i am sending...

letter to vogue.doc

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athomas91 - that's a good letter and thanks for writing it! I say the guy's a French "bastard" and I think he knows exactly what he's doing - and he did it on purpose! But, that's my opinion, and until I see a major apology, I'm sticking to it. The thing that amazes me (somewhat) is he isn't even a board certified surgeon himself - yet wants to call CRNAs "quacks". Talk about calling the kettle black...! What Gaul! ;-) Then again - he IS French... need I say more? ;-)

I like the approach of trying to bring Vogue "into the fold" of learning about the role of CRNAs and being supportive. That would be the best outcome in my opinion. Barring that, I'd like to support a class action lawsuit for damages to our good name and profession - HA!

Sleeepy

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Andrea, I love your perspective on this. I was so naive to think that he was actually writing to me. :o

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The very same reply came back so fast it has to be on auto reply!!!!!!!!!! :angryfire

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

June 11, 2004

Laurie Jones

Managing Editor

Vogue

4 Times Square, Floor 12

New York, NY 10036-6518

Dear Ms. Jones,

In anesthesia, nurse anesthetists would be grossly negligent if they did not check their patient's records and care plan, equipment, and drug and supply inventory prior to surgery. In journalism, writers and editors would be grossly negligent if they did not check their facts prior to publication. The editors and writers of Vogue demonstrated the latter in not checking their facts before printing the outlandish and inaccurate statement about nurse anesthesia safety in the article "Shopping for Surgery" (Vogue, June 2004).

One possible result of nurse anesthetists failing to do their job properly is patient death. Fortunately, according to the Institute of Medicine, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), anesthesia is nearly 50 times safer today than it was in the early 1980s, regardless of whether the provider is a physician anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist. And it just so happens that 65 percent of the time a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is involved with the patient's care-administering the anesthetic, monitoring the patient's vital signs, staying with the patient throughout the surgery.

The result of credible journalists failing to do their job properly can be misinformed/frightened readers and defamed individuals. Vogue managed both by publishing Dr. Abergel's ill-advised and uninformed comments about nurse anesthetists.

The facts are these: Nurse anesthetists have been around since the Civil War, with their focus on patient comfort and safety since day one. These advanced practice nurses with a minimum of seven years of education and training are one of the main providers of anesthetics in this country, working with and without their physician counterparts. CRNAs are also the primary anesthesia providers to mothers in labor and delivery, in office-surgery settings, in rural hospitals, and in the U.S. Military. In fact, when the special forces rescued Pfc. Jessica Lynch from her Iraqi captors, the anesthesia provider who accompanied the team was a CRNA.

Plastic surgery is, indeed, risky business. Patients are smart to check out the facility, the providers, and any number of factors before going under the knife. With so much plastic surgery today being conducted in physicians' offices, prospective patients should rest easy knowing the following two facts about nurse anesthetists:

1. The AANA developed the first and still most comprehensive Standards for Office Based Anesthesia Practice.

2. According to a study published in the January 2003 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, "Outpatient surgery is an important aspect of plastic surgery. It was shown that office-based surgery with intravenous sedation, performed by board-certified plastic surgeons and nurse anesthetists, is safe."

Whenever any anesthesia requirement goes beyond local anesthesia or light conscious sedation, the AANA firmly believes that a qualified anesthesia provider such as a nurse anesthetist or anesthesiologist should be involved in the patient's care.

An apology for and retraction of Dr. Abergel's statement would be in the best interests of your readers and only fair to the nation's 30,000+ nurse anesthetists.

Sincerely,

Tom McKibban, CRNA, MS

AANA President

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