Diethyl ether anaesthesia was first demonstrated with success in 1846 and proved its
vital role in medicine and medical procedures. 16th October is celebrated as World Anaesthesia Day because this day honours the successful administration of the first anaesthesia and invites medical professionals worldwide to commemorate and celebrate this milestone to promote advancements in anaesthesia practice.
On 16th October 1846, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital demonstrated the use of ether for the first time on a patient. American dentist and physician William Thomas Green Morton administered diethyl ether anaesthesia to remove a tumour in the jaw. He created history on this day when for the first time a patient underwent surgery without feeling any pain. Dr. Morgan standardised the use of ether for effective medical procedures and his work led to the adoption of contemporary anaesthesia methods in the medical field today.
It’s been 170 years since the first anaesthesia was administered, and there have been countless breakthroughs in the field. Yet nearly 5 billion people lack access to safe anaesthesia practices. World Anaesthesia Day is celebrated to shed light on the ongoing neglect and spread global awareness of the issue. On this day, through advocacy anaesthesiologists worldwide hope to raise awareness, mobilise political will, educate the general public and enforce the achievements of the global anaesthesia community.
The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) leads World Anaesthesia Day, focusing on different aspects of anaesthesia care every year. They educate the world on the diverse roles of anaesthesiologists and their critical intervention in patient care. The theme for World Anaesthesia Day 2024 is “Workforce Well-being”. Throughout 2024, WFSA aims to raise awareness of the “importance and impact of well-being on the anaesthesia workforce and the patients they serve.”
Susan Nicoll, Chair of the WFSA Workforce Well-Being Committee, stated that they chose the theme to acknowledge that the “health and well-being of the anaesthesiology workforce globally is integral to the work we do […] We need to be well to provide optimal patient care.”
This year, WFSA’s experts-led seminars, published education resources and experts-led webinars will explore multiple aspects of well-being. They will seek strategies for best practices to fortify anaesthesia providers against stress and prioritise their overall well-being.
The medical profession is a noble pursuit that is fraught with difficult decision-making as every life is precious and the doctor plays a critical role in protecting it. In countries such as India, where the hospitals are overburdened and the doctors are constantly working around the clock to save one more life, it is important to raise awareness of their working conditions and mental well-being.
Anaesthesiologists must work with utmost precision to ensure the patient is precisely administered. Often, they work in stressful conditions, and they need to maintain their equanimity to perform their work well. In light of the incidents that are occurring in the country where patients’ families are attacking doctors, or there are inadequate facilities in hospitals to ensure that doctors can work long hours comfortably, it is important to focus on the doctor's well-being.
Individuals can contribute towards ensuring anaesthesiologists and doctors, in general, have a healthy workspace by respecting the profession and its demands. Support doctors when they are being pushed to the edge and recognise their limitations too. Governments must be held accountable for the fractured health system and compelled to work towards its betterment. There are simple measures one can adopt to show solidarity in ensuring a better health system and excellent work environment for doctors and healthcare workers.
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