If I understand correctly, this is why anaesthesiologists (please insert correct spelling)have the highest malpractice insurance rates.
Probably the anaesthetic was given by a nurse anaesthetist. Many people choose a nurse over an M.D. for elective surgery that is not paid for by insurance, because it costs less. There is no law that requires outpatient surgery centers to use M.D.s, though many of the better ones do. People do not realize that all anaesthetics are poisons and that nurses are not trained to identify or handle unusual reactions to them. ALWAYS insist on an anaesthesiologist when you have surgery of any kind!!