An anesthesiologist (American English), or anaesthetist (British English), is a medical doctor trained to administer anesthesia.

Training varies depending on the country. In Australia, for example, training is overseen by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.

In the United States, anesthesiologists are medical doctors (MD). MD anesthesiologists complete four years of medical school training, a one year internship, then three years of postgraduate training in the form of an anesthesiology residency. Registered nurses (RN) trained to administer anesthesia are called 'anesthetists.'

Anaesthetists in the United Kingdom are doctors with five years undergraduate training. They usually enter anaesthetics from other specialties, such as Medicine or Accident and Emergency. Specialist training then takes at least seven years - the longest anaesthetic training in the world. It is overseen by the Royal College of Anaesthetists. There is currently debate within the United Kingdom about the introduction of Nurse Specialists in Anaesthesia.

External link

• American Society of Anesthesiologists (http://www.asahq.org/)
• Royal College of Anaesthetists (http://www.rcoa.ac.uk/)

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