Will AI Replace Anesthesiologists?

Examine patient, obtain medical history, and use diagnostic tests to determine risk during surgical, obstetrical, and other medical procedures.

visual inspection — Patient physical assessment is hands-on clinical work

Administer anesthetic or sedation during medical procedures, using local, intravenous, spinal, or caudal methods.

physical manipulation — Anesthesia administration is high-risk hands-on clinical act

Record type and amount of anesthesia and patient condition throughout procedure.

interpersonal — Patient history requires live elicitation and judgment

Monitor patient before, during, and after anesthesia and counteract adverse reactions or complications.

decision support — In-procedure patient monitoring is hands-on clinical work

Decide when patients have recovered or stabilized enough to be sent to another room or ward or to be sent home following outpatient surgery.

decision support — AI aids chart review; clinical observation of patient is human

Coordinate administration of anesthetics with surgeons during operation.

interpersonal — Treatment planning collaboration is accountable clinical work

Position patient on operating table to maximize patient comfort and surgical accessibility.

physical manipulation — Physically positioning patients for exams

Coordinate and direct work of nurses, medical technicians, and other health care providers.

interpersonal — Patient care supervision is live clinical leadership

Provide and maintain life support and airway management and help prepare patients for emergency surgery.

physical manipulation — ALS requires hands-on airway, drugs, defibrillation

Confer with other medical professionals to determine type and method of anesthetic or sedation to render patient insensible to pain.

interpersonal — Treatment planning collaboration is accountable clinical work

Manage anesthesiological services, coordinating them with other medical activities and formulating plans and procedures.

interpersonal — Treatment planning collaboration is accountable clinical work

Place invasive intravascular monitors into patients.

physical manipulation — Medical equipment operated hands-on on patients

Order laboratory tests, x-rays, and other diagnostic procedures.

decision support — Clinical ordering requires licensed human accountability

Inform students and staff of types and methods of anesthesia administration, signs of complications, and emergency methods to counteract reactions.

interpersonal — Provider training is clinical, hands-on, accountable

Diagnose illnesses, using examinations, tests, and reports.

decision support — AI suggests differentials; clinician examines and owns diagnosis

Teach anesthesiology principles to residents.

interpersonal — Technology teaching needs live human demonstration

Provide medical care and consultation in many settings, prescribing medication and treatment and referring patients for surgery.

decision support — Clinical referral judgment needs licensed human accountability

Instruct individuals and groups on ways to preserve health and prevent disease.

decision support — Wellness advice needs tailoring and clinical accountability

Conduct medical research to aid in controlling and curing disease, to investigate new medications, and to develop and test new medical techniques.

information retrieval — Literature review aided; wet-lab and clinical research human

Schedule and maintain use of surgical suite, including operating, wash-up, waiting rooms, or anesthetic and sterilizing equipment.

data analysis — AI schedules facility use; human resolves conflicts