The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology has withdrawn two trademark applications incorporating the term “nurse anesthesiologist” following opposition proceedings brought by the American Society of Anesthesiologists before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
AANA filed motions to withdraw the applications on June 29, after ASA filed opposition proceedings in June 2024 arguing the term “nurse anesthesiologist” is deceptive when applied to non-physicians. The withdrawn applications were for “American Association of Nurse Anesthesiologists” and “American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and Nurse Anesthesiologists,” both filed in 2019 as potential future business entity names.
In a June 30 news release, ASA characterized the withdrawal as a “decisive victory,” while AANA stressed the decision was voluntary and administrative in nature, with no bearing on how CRNAs describe their roles, their scope of practice or patient care.
“This was a voluntary, strategic decision, not a legal denial or response that alters how CRNAs describe their role,” AANA President Jeff Molter, CRNA, said in a statement shared with Becker’s. AANA added that CRNAs can continue to describe themselves as nurse anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists or CRNAs consistent with applicable state law.