You are the Chief of Surgery at a major urban medical center. Dr X is a 67-year-old general surgeon who has been
your close friend since you were residents. Dr X has had excellent clinical results
throughout his long career, but during the last year you have been hearing anecdotal
reports from several sources that his behavior has become somewhat erratic. Cases
that have been reviewed in the departmental morbidity and mortality conference suggest
that his complication rate may have increased slightly during this period. This Monday
morning, a surgeon with a well-known long-standing dislike of Dr X has come to your
office to report indignantly that he detected the odor of alcohol when Dr X came in
for an emergency case the previous afternoon. What should you do?
- (1)Refer the matter to the hospital Chief-of-Staff
- (2)Meet with Dr X about the report, interview the other parties, document your findings, and refer Dr X for counseling, if indicated
- (3)Appoint an investigative committee, which you will chair
- (4)Meet with Dr X. and document your findings carefully
- (5)Make extensive notes and wait to see if it happens again
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References
- Identifying and assisting the impaired physician.Am J Med Sci. 2001; 322: 31-36
- John Gregory's writings on medical ethics and the philosophy of medicine.Kluwer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands1998
- Medical ethics, or a code of institutes and precepts, adapted to the professional conduct of physicians and surgeons.Johnson and Bickerstaff, London1803
- Physicians and addiction.N Engl J Med. 2002; 346: 1510-1511
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
September 5,
2003
Houston, Tex, and Columbia, MoIdentification
Copyright
© 2004 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
