• K Ulsenheimer and E Biermann.
• Ulsenheimer-Friederich Rechtsanwälte, Maximiliansplatz 12, 80333 München. Ulsenheimer@uls-frie.de
• Anaesthesist. 2007 Apr 1; 56 (4): 313-6, 318-21.

AbstractThe increasing mechanisation, specialisation and sub-specialisation in medicine have enduringly supported the delegation of originally medical activities to non-medical personnel and sometimes also made it necessary. Economical considerations have recently given additional impulse to these developments. It is indisputable that medical activities can be delegated to assistant personnel, however, it is equally indisputable that within the scope of the total spectrum of medical activities, there are limits to the extent of delegation, i.e. activities reserved exclusively for medical doctors. These include, by consensus of opinion, the physical examination, diagnosis, assessment of indication, determination of the therapy plan and informing the patient. The following article justifies from professional and legal viewpoints why anaesthesia also belongs to the genuine medical duties and is reserved exclusively for medical personnel. Therefore, the correct performance of parallel narcosis is coupled with far-reaching liability risks for all participants involved in this form of organisation or those responsible for them.

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