37-4-511. Limitations on administration of general anesthetics and practices involving general anesthesia. - Montana Statutes

     37-4-511. Limitations on administration of general anesthetics and practices involving general anesthesia. (1) A person engaged in the practice of dentistry or oral surgery may not perform any dental or surgical procedure upon another person if a general anesthetic is administered unless the anesthetic is administered and monitored by:
     (a) an anesthesiologist licensed to practice medicine by the state board of medical examiners;
     (b) a nurse anesthetist recognized in that specialty by the state board of nursing; or
     (c) another health professional who has received at least 1 year of postgraduate training in the administration of general anesthesia.
     (2) A person engaged in the practice of dentistry or oral surgery may not conduct any dental or surgical procedure upon another person under full general anesthesia unless the vital signs of the patient are continually monitored by another health professional who meets the qualifications for an anesthesiologist, nurse anesthetist, or other trained health professional as provided for in subsection (1).
     (3) A person engaged in the practice of dentistry or oral surgery may not conduct any dental or surgical procedure upon another person under light general anesthesia unless the vital signs of the patient are continually monitored by another person who has been examined by the board or its agent in life support skills and who has demonstrated a satisfactory level of proficiency as established by the board.
     (4) A person engaged in the practice of dentistry or oral surgery may not administer a general anesthetic to any other person unless the administering person satisfies the requirements for a person qualified to administer a general anesthetic, as provided in subsection (1), and meets any additional standards established by the board of dentistry for training in the administration of general anesthesia and in the treatment of the complications of general anesthesia. This subsection does not affect the requirements for monitoring of vital signs by another health professional under subsection (2) or (3).
     (5) The facility in which general anesthesia is to be administered as part of a dental or surgical procedure must be equipped with proper drugs and equipment to safely administer anesthetic agents, to monitor the well-being of the patient under general anesthesia, and to treat the complications that may arise from general anesthesia.

     History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 518, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1365, Ch. 56, L. 2009.