....because they're perceived as incompetent. No clinical or critical care experience.
But how do we really know that they're not as skilled as the CRNAs? Is there a study or any objective data stating that CRNAs are safer than the AAs??
Yes, AAs must be supervised by doctors, while CRNAs can be independent. This still doesn't "prove" that CRNAs are better. What if AAs were trained to be independent like the CRNAs? Would they be able to do the job as well as the CRNAs? The point is let's make apples-to-apples comparison. Point is, AAs are limited in their function...not because they're necessarily incompetent...but rather because the law limits their functions.