Vertigo963 t1_irus63x wrote on October 11, 2022 at 4:54 AM

Does anyone know whether this is really a legal requirement? Sounds like something that low-level employees say to you to justify arbitrary red tape.

imaluckyduckie t1_irwe4zk wrote on October 11, 2022 at 3:23 PM

It's very real:

New Jersey Administrative Code Title 13 - LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Chapter 35 - BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS

Subchapter 4A - SURGERY, SPECIAL PROCEDURES AND ANESTHESIA SERVICES PERFORMED IN AN OFFICE SETTING

>Section 13:35-4A.7 - Standards for administering or supervising the administration of anesthesia services in an office; pre-anesthesia counseling; patient monitoring; recovery; patient record; discharge of patient
>
>(g) A practitioner who administers or supervises the administration and monitoring of anesthesia services in an office shall ensure the following prior to discharge:
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>1. That at least one practitioner shall remain on the premises until the patient is discharged to home or transferred to the special overnight stay area;
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>2. That the patient shall be given written and verbal instructions for follow-up care and advice concerning complications;
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>3. That before the patient leaves the office or is transferred to the overnight stay area, the physician shall evaluate the patient and shall review and sign the post-anesthesia record; and
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>4. That the patient shall be discharged only into the company of a responsible individual.

Vertigo963 t1_irwnzmx wrote on October 11, 2022 at 4:29 PM

Thanks! Seems like unnecessary interference in peoples' private lives to me, but who am I to disagree with 21 unelected political appointees?

imaluckyduckie t1_irwvcyw wrote on October 11, 2022 at 5:16 PM

Have you ever had general anesthesia? You can wake up pretty out of it and many people are definitely in no condition to be driving/navigating themselves home. I escorted a friend once in Hoboken and I couldn't even get her to walk down the street after her procedure. She kept stopping to chat up every passing person on the sidewalk. Definitely would not have wanted to see her try to make it home by herself.

Vertigo963 t1_irwxg5c wrote on October 11, 2022 at 5:29 PM

The symptoms of general anesthesia fade pretty quickly, and I still don't see a good reason to legally bar people from getting a cab.

imaluckyduckie t1_irzhthq wrote on October 12, 2022 at 4:57 AM

Side effects last up to 24hrs

Vertigo963 t1_is0uvay wrote on October 12, 2022 at 2:16 PM

In my experience, someone coming out from under general anesthesia for an outpatient procedure is perfectly capable of using a cab within about an hour. Keep in mind, 95% of the time we're going to be talking about someone having extremely brief outpatient surgery. Which is why it's stupid to have a restrictive single rule for every case.