I Knew The ASA Is Just Another Money Making Enterprise

The American Society of Anesthesiologists bills itself as a standard bearer for anesthesiologists. With its lofty, and oft repeated, statements about patient safety and anesthesia advocacy, the organization comes across as saintly as the Vatican. So it's a shame they will demean themselves by running a stupid Black Friday sale.

I was dismayed when I got an email from the ASA on Black Friday hailing their "hottest sale of the year". Upon viewing the merchandise the group was marking down, it is obvious the selection is full of stuff nobody wants. An eight year old ACE booklet for $30? I guess it is a deal when it used to cost over $100 when new. But how many people really need a CME program from 2005? Medical information has expiration dates. That's why we spend billions of dollars on new research every year. These old CME booklets will not advance an anesthesiologist's knowledge base. More mature and stable information hopefully should have been retained from residency.

In fact, if the ASA really cared about physician advocacy, it should donate these old programs to anesthesia residencies all around the country. Any leftover books more than four years old should be handed out by the ASA for free. This will get the information to individuals who need it the most, our future anesthesiologists. The group should not be hawking its leftovers from the back of their warehouse to make a few extra bucks. But then again I guess they need the money to finish their sparkling new headquarters.