Who’s a doctor and who is not? Florida Legislature should make sure the public knows

In a widely syndicated, Miami Herald op-ed, PPP President Dr. Rebekah Bernard addresses confusion in Florida caused by Nurse Anesthetists identifying as “doctors” without clearly identifying their credential.

Dr. Bernard writes: “Implying (or in this case, frankly stating) that nurse and physician training are equivalent is inaccurate and deceptive to the public, which deserves to understand the education of those providing their medical care. Physicians must complete 12-14 years of education and 12,000-16,000 hours of clinical experience before being permitted to independently provide anesthesia for patients.”