Anaesthesia

Anaesthetists are specialist doctors responsible for providing anaesthesia and pain management to patients before, during and after operations and procedures. Anaesthesia training consists of postgraduate specialist training of at least seven years in anaesthesia, intensive care medicine and pain management.

Anaesthesia (from Greek meaning “without sensation”) is a state of controlled, temporary loss of sensation or awareness. It may include analgesia (relief from or prevention of pain), paralysis (muscle relaxation), amnesia (loss of memory), or unconsciousness.

In addition to providing anaesthesia to those in need, anaesthetists key responsibilities also include:

  • getting a patient ready for surgery and looking after them post-surgery
  • resuscitation and stabilisation of patients in the emergency department
  • pain relief in labour and obstetric anaesthesia
  • transport of acutely ill and injured patients
  • pre-hospital emergency care.

Some anaesthetists have a range of practice which extends beyond anaesthesia for surgery which includes pain management and intensive care.

As part of their training, all anaesthetists undergo specialist training in intensive care medicine. As a result, most of the doctors in intensive care medicine are anaesthetists and are also involved in resuscitation teams and training. Whilst anaesthetists spend the majority of their time in the operating theatre, they also work in a range of other specialist areas and departments in a hospital.

About our anaesthesia expert

Dr Stotz completed his medical training at the Medical School of the University of Basel, Switzerland and in Heidelberg, Germany. He obtained his medical degree in 1993 and became an MD in 1997. His postgraduate training in anaesthesia was in Switzerland (Lucerne and Basel) and postgraduate training in intensive care in Switzerland and the UK (Basel, Geneva, and UCLH). He is an experienced expert witness with Bond Solon training.

His expert witness work is split 40% Claimant, 40% Defendant, 20% Single Joint Expert.

Dr Stotz speaks English, French and German.