The Tennessee Academy of Ophthalmology announced that it is running radio advertisements in response to Senate Bill 220 and House Bill 555. These bills would allow optometrists – who are not medical doctors – to inject anesthesia with a needle into the delicate tissues surrounding the eye for the purpose of performing surgeries on the eyelid to remove lesions, cysts and tumors. The 30-second advertisements are running on radio stations throughout the state and are designed to educate Tennesseans about this dangerous legislation that, if passed, would pose a risk to patient safety and would lower the quality of surgical eye care that Tennesseans currently receive. The Tennessee legislation comes on the heels of a proposal in the California legislature that would give allied health professionals, including optometrists, a greatly expanded scope of practice. If passed, the new law would allow optometrists to perform a multitude of surgical eye procedures. California legislators have cited the federal Affordable Care Act as justification for loosening the state’s quality of health care delivery. Read more.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
TN MDs Oppose Bill Giving ODs the Right to Inject Local Anesthesia
The Tennessee Academy of Ophthalmology is opposing a recently filed bill (SB220/HB555) which, as amended, would allow optometrists to inject local anesthesia into the delicate tissue surrounding the eyelid in order to perform surgery. Optometrists are currently restricted to using topical anesthetic to remove what they call “lumps and bumps.” The legislation reportedly would allow optometrists to perform more advanced surgical procedures that require an injectable anesthetic. Read more.
KnoxNews reports that “Jeremy Diamond, an optometrist who practices in Morristown and Newport, Tenn., said providers like himself are already allowed to inject steroids and antibiotics. They can only apply a topical anesthesia, which Diamond said takes 30 to 40 minutes to become effective.” Read more.