Anaesthetics training in the United States

America offers far less experience than Britain

EDITOR,--The American system of anaesthetics training certainly has several strengths, as Geoffrey N Morris points out.1 The training is structured and highly supervised, and residents undergo constant appraisal and assessment by their seniors. I agree that after the three year scheme the trainees are as competent and experienced as any senior house officer in Britain. The problem is that that is where the training ends.

Morris emphasises the level of supervision: residents are supervised totally, “whether the case is an arthroscopy or open heart surgery.” But what happens when this supervision stops abruptly? It …