We celebrate this year the 90th Anniversary of the Dagmar Nelson trial victory that established the legality of nurse anesthesia practice. This presentation describes the woman, her anesthesia educational background and her journey to California to become the anesthetist for Dr Verne Hunt. It details the 12-day trial brought against her for practicing medicine without a license, arguments by plaintiff and defense and implications for the profession today.
Learning Objectives:
Describe the anesthesia education of Dagmar Nelson, factors that led her to a political hot bed for nurse anesthetists in California and the role Dr Leverne Hunt played in the trial in 1934.
Discuss the 12-day trial of Dagmar Nelson with emphasis on arguments of the plaintiff and defense and verdict in lower court as well as the California Supreme Court.
Explain the Dagmar Nelson trial victory in terms of implications for today and final issues to resolve 90 years later.
