General anesthetics are drugs which induce unconsciousness. They are generally used before surgery in order to keep the patient unconscious.
Recommended Resources
Outlines various agents used for general anesthesia, what the risks are, and why they work.
http://www.myoptumhealth.com/portal/Information/item/Anesthesia:+Risks+and+Reality?archiveChannel=Home%2FArticle&clicked=true
Diprivan Risk Well-Known to Doctors
In the wake of the death of Michael Jackson, which involved the illicit use of Diprivan, CNN published this article, which delves into the dangers of unsupervised use.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/03/jackson.diprivan/index.html
How Anesthesia Works: General Anesthesia Administration and Recovery
Offers a detailed description of how a general anesthetic operates, how it affects the patient, and possible dangers in using them.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/anesthesia5.htm
