Panel Rejects Limiting Who Can Do Surgery

A move to prevent anyone but physicians and others designated by state law from performing surgery has been rejected by the state Board of Health.

The citizen panel acted Wednesday after optometrists denounced the proposal as an unnecessary power grab by the Washington State Medical Association.

Optometrists are specifically allowed to perform laser eye surgery in Idaho and some other states but do not currently perform the procedure in Washington, although they feel qualified to do so, said John Guadnola, general counsel for the Washington Association of Optometric Physicians.

Supporters said 41 states have laws or rules that limit surgery to doctors, and 23 bar laser procedures by anyone other than doctors.

The decision means the health board will recommend that the Legislature reject the association’s surgery-limitation bill, which is pending in the House Health Care Committee.