April 18 - Meeting of the
Section of Pediatric Anaesthesia

On the same day as Vinay Goyal's second operation, the regular monthly meeting of the Section of Pediatric Anaesthesia was held. McNeill and Swartz were in the operating room, looking after Vinay Goyal until well after 1900 hours, when the meeting apparently ended. Of the four anaesthetists who provided anaesthetic care for pediatric cardiac patients, Reimer was present at the meeting. At this meeting he discussed the concerns that the four anaesthetists had with cannulation problems and lengthy surgical times.

The members of the section resolved to appoint a liaison between Anaesthesia and Surgery. The liaison person's function was to communicate the concerns of the anaesthetists to those in charge of the program and those responsible for monitoring the surgeon, on whom most of the concerns centred. The role of the liaison also apparently was to continue over the longer term and was not intended to simply be a one-shot effort. The four anaesthetists involved in the pediatric cardiac program were to meet in order to select the person who would act as the liaison.