General anesthesia is always dangerous. Anything that averts the need for it will save lives. Every year, a lot of people die from anesthesia complications during minor surgery such as wisdom tooth extraction, D&Cs, etc.
You've got that straight. Hundreds of thousands of people die from "minor surgery" like D&Cs every year. But they're inconvenient people.
Now wait a minute. This, with all due respect, is the kind of medical ignorance that hurts people. I am an anesthesiologist, and I am here to tell you that general anesthesia in the hands of a competent physician is not dangerous. I anesthetize sick and well people alike, and in over 5,000 cases have never had an anesthesia related death.
Please note, however, that anesthesia in the hands of UNSKILLED people, including CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETISTS (CRNA), denstists, and office based anesthesia providers who are not board certified anesthesiologists IS dangerous, and this is where the majority of deaths occur.
Please, in the future, do not make sweeping general statements about which you know nothing about.