Letter to the MSNBC and Robert Kotler

This campaign is now closed. But the text of the letter that many nursing supporters sent to the producers can be found below.

Dear Ms. Norville and Dr. Kotler:

I am writing to express my grave concern about inaccurate and harmful statements about nurse anesthetists on the July 13, 2004 edition of "Deborah Norville Tonight." In the program, which discussed the safety of aesthetic plastic surgery, Dr. Kotler is quoted as saying that anesthesia "should be given by a physician anesthesiologist. Unfortunately--not a nurse anesthetist." Dr. Kotler then implied that the fact that a nurse anesthetist (as opposed to an anesthesiologist) was involved in the recent Goldsmith case was a factor in the patient's death: "The state of New York was critical of the hospital because the nurse anesthetist was apparently unsupervised, as they described it. So I believe--and frankly, for myself and my family, I want a doctor anesthesiologist." A few moments later, discussing the importance of adequate facilities, Dr. Kotler asserted that "a doctor anesthesiologist will not work in a facility that's not up to snuff," clearly implying that a nurse anesthetist would. The program offered no statistical or anecdotal support for Dr. Kotler's statements, nor did a nurse anesthetist appear to respond.

Contrary to Dr. Kotler's unsupported statements, published research has shown that the care of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA's) is at least as good as that of anesthesiologists. The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists' (AANA) has compiled a database of such research. See <http://www.aana.com/crna/prof/quality.asp>. CRNA's are skilled professionals with at least master's degrees who provide vital anesthesia services to thousands of surgical patients daily, especially in more remote areas with insufficient business potential to attract anesthesiologists. MSNBC should have consulted a nurse anesthetist or the AANA for the facts, or at least for a response to Dr. Kotler's sweeping statements.

Many who create negative media images of nurses doubt that such images can really harm the nursing profession, which is currently suffering from a critical shortage that is a major public health crisis. However, as public health professionals at USC's Hollywood, Health and Society project and elsewhere can tell you, the media does affect how people think and act with regard to health issues. Inaccurate, unfounded negative comments such as the ones aired by MSNBC contribute to an unattractive media image, which in turn affects how people think and act with regard to nursing. Indeed, a key reason that nursing is in its current state--understaffed, underfunded and underempowered--is that the work of nurses is undervalued by the general public and health care decision makers, all of whom are affected by the media. Such disrespect also directly discourages nurses and potential nurses.

We urge MSNBC and Dr. Kotler to publicly apologize to all Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists in the next edition of "Deborah Norville Tonight." We also urge you to consult nurse experts on any future health-related programs, to help prevent problems such as this one.

I also encourage you to make amends to the nursing profession, and to help resolve the nursing shortage, by supporting efforts to improve public understanding of the profession in a tangible way. Creating frequent health care television programs in collaboration with nurses, or using nurses as at least some of the health experts on all of your health care shows, would be a reasonable start. The Center for Nursing Advocacy, which works to improve public understanding of nursing, would be happy to assist you. We are confident that organizations such as Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow would also be happy to work with you.

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