A unanimous 10th Ohio District Court of Appeals ruled this week that the administrative rules specifically prohibiting anesthesiologist assistants (AA) from performing epidural and spinal anesthetic procedures are consistent with the terms of applicable state law. The ruling is a rejection of an appeals argument from a state-certified AA who had earlier won a ruling from the Franklin County Common Pleas Court that declared the rules were in conflict with the law. The AMC/NOMA has historically been very active on this issue, including testimony at both the Ohio legislature and State Medical Board referable to the matter and a joint amicus brief filing in the spring of 2004 stating our support in allowing AAs to perform regional anesthesia techniques and medically accepted monitoring. The AMC/NOMA has not yet heard if there will be any additional legal actions regarding this matter. To read the court's decision, go to http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/rod/newpdf/default.asp