Dr Ashwani Kumar, Dr Updesh Kumar
World Anesthesia Day is observed annually on October 16th to mark a transformative milestone in the history of medicine – the first successful public demonstration of ether anesthesia by American dentist William Thomas Green Morton in 1846 at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Witnessed by doctors and surgeons, this historic event proved that painless surgery was not only possible but also practical. The occasion, now celebrated as “Ether Day” or “National Anesthesia Day,” revolutionized surgery by enabling pain-free operations and fundamentally changing medical practice worldwide.
World Anesthesia Day highlights the vital role of anesthesia in healthcare, making complex and life-saving surgeries possible without inflicting pain on patients. It also honors the tireless dedication and expertise of anesthesiologists, who often work behind the scenes in operating rooms, intensive care units (ICUs), pain clinics, palliative care centers, and emergency departments, ensuring patient safety and well-being.
The theme for World Anesthesia Day 2025, “Anesthesiology in Health Emergencies,” emphasizes the critical and multifaceted role anesthesiologists play during crises such as natural disasters-for example, the recent cloudburst in Chasoti, District Kishtwar in our Union Territory-and global health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic (2019-20). The theme highlights their invaluable contributions to patient care, safety, and healthcare delivery during emergencies and critical situations.
Today, anesthesia is indispensable-from routine dental work to major surgeries and cancer treatments, with nearly 80% of cancer patients requiring anesthesia at some stage of their care. Anesthesiologists play an essential role in perioperative care, as well as in broader medical fields such as pain management, palliative care, critical care, and emergency and trauma management.
They also provide conscious sedation for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures outside the operating room. In transplant programs, anesthesiologists manage anesthesia for both donors and recipients, contribute to organ preservation, and participate in brain-death evaluation and donor maintenance in ICUs. Beyond clinical practice, they continue to expand their roles in research, innovation, and the training of undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Despite more than 170 years since the advent of surgical anesthesia, millions around the world still lack access to safe anesthesia and related care. The observance of World Anesthesia Day calls for greater awareness, resources, training, and global commitment to ensure that safe anesthesia services are accessible to all.
Anesthesia truly bridges the gap between suffering and relief, representing one of the greatest gifts of medicine to humanity. On this World Anesthesia Day, we celebrate the science, compassion, and dedication that define anesthesiology-and honor the professionals who make comfort and safety possible for every patient.
(Dr Ashwani Kumar is President ISA Jammu and Dr Updesh Kumar Gen. Secretary ISA Jammu)
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