Written by: Pete Kaluszyk CAA, M.Ed.
It is with sadness that the Ohio Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (OAAA) is notifying its members of the passing of David Paragas, Esq. in Columbus on October 13. Mr. Paragas was a partner at the law firm of Barnes and Thornburg and specialized in legislative, political, lobbying, activities and health care law.
Mr. Paragas played a major role in establishing the OAAA as our professional organization within the State of Ohio as a legal organizational entity. Thus, the OAAA became the first anesthesiologist assistant State Academy in 1999. His background led him to support our efforts in developing legislation and resulted in the 1999 licensing of AAs in Ohio. His father, an anesthesiologist at St. Vincent Hospital in Cleveland, had hired CAAs and supported CAA education in the 1970s onward. Dave “grew up” with CAAs and he was eager to take on our cause for licensing anesthesiologist assistant practice. His experience as a health care law writer and lobbyist was essential to putting together a licensing law and shepherding it through the Ohio legislature.
Once the Bill was introduced in early 2000, he worked tirelessly to build support and help the leadership of the OAAA strategize and counter arguments against the introduced Bill. His background as a lobbyist was important in putting together a coalition of support with other lobbyists to push the legislation through the halls of the Ohio Assembly. His efforts paid off with the passage of the Bill, with only one lone vote against the bill between both chambers.
Mr. Paragas' work wasn’t done when CAA practice rules were defined by the Ohio State Medical Board in their interpretation of what “assist” meant relating to delegated tasks from anesthesiologists. The interpretation was limiting and more restrictive and the definition would thus change the long standing, established safe practice model in which CAAs had practiced. He was the lead attorney in the lawsuit focused on defining the word “assist” in the technical sense (performing the delegated tasks) and not the common sense (assisting the anesthesiologist in performing the tasks). The legal battle went from the Court of Common Pleas in Cleveland, to the District Appeals Court in Columbus, and then on to the Ohio Supreme Court; a hard fought battle that lasted five years.
Mr. Paragas’ arguments before the Ohio Supreme Court were well-crafted, legally solid, insightful, and informative. He deftly handled the challenging questions posed to him by the judges of the Court and was resolute in making sure the judges understood our arguments. As a result of his effort, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled a unanimous verdict in the definition of the word “assist” that would maintain the established practice of CAAs in Ohio. The decision has resulted in the thriving practice of CAAs Ohio within the Anesthesia Care Team model. He was steadfast, unrelenting, and passionate about the AA cause; qualities he maintained throughout the entirety of his career.
Mr. Paragas’ work in the Ohio lawsuit has not only positively affected CAA practice in Ohio, but the Ohio Supreme Court ruling has had an impact on allied health practice nationally. The Ohio decision has been legally cited in arguments to support licensing efforts for CAAs in other States and by other allied health professions defining delegated medical tasks.
Mr. Paragas was also the first National Affairs Director for the AAAA and worked with the AAAA in developing new legislation for licensure and political strategies. He also advised lobbyists involved in State legislation in their strategies and counterarguments for opponents’ rationale against our licensing efforts.
The passing of Mr. Paragas leaves a large void in our hearts both professionally and personally, for those who knew him. Those of us who lived through the Ohio licensing and the post licensing court efforts owe him a great debt of gratitude. For those of you who came after this history, you can practice as a CAA because of his efforts. He will be missed by all of us who knew him but our memories of him will help to fill this void.