A bill that would loosen a restriction on certified nurse anesthetists fell two votes short of passing in the House on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 184, sponsored by Sen. Gary Stubblefield, R-Branch, would amend Arkansas Code Annotated 17-18-102 to require the nurses to work "in coordination with" rather than "under the supervision of" a physician, dentist or other practitioner authorized to order anesthesia.
The House sponsor, Rep. Justin Gonzales, R-Okolona, said it would change the law to more accurately reflect what often happens when anesthesia is administered.
[RELATED: Complete Democrat-Gazette coverage of the Arkansas Legislature]
In hospitals that don't employ anesthesiologists, a surgeon gives the order for the anesthesia but doesn't supervise how it's administered.
He said it would also address surgeons' perceptions that they could be held liable for mistakes made by the nurse anesthetists under their supervision.
Opponents, including anesthesiologists and other physicians, said the bill would create confusion because "in coordination with" isn't defined in the bill and no other state uses that language.
The bill passed 21-4 in the Senate on Feb. 21. It was rejected by the House on Tuesday in a 49-37 vote, with nine other members not voting and 5 voting present.
-- Andy Davis