COLLAPSE Scenario: A surgeon who has been on call comes into the ED to evaluate

Question

COLLAPSE

Scenario: A surgeon who has been on call comes into the ED to evaluate a young boy with a traumatic bone break that requires surgical intervention. A unit clerk working at the ED notices the surgeon smells of alcohol when the surgeon is standing near the clerk’s desk making a call to the Operating Room to arrange an immediate surgery.

DQ2: Briefly describe the possible malpractice issue for the physician. As a Risk Manager: Describe the steps you would want the clerk to take in this situation. If the clerk does not come forward and there is a negative outcome for the surgery how should the Risk Manager handle the situation and address the physician and clerk.

Explanation / Answer

The physian could be liable for punishment and permanent ban on his license. The clerk should immediately inform the higher authorities and stop the operation before anything happens. If not even th elcerk will be liable for punishment for not informing the management. The risk manager must personally take up the case and see that the physician is out of the hospital and such incidents are not repeated.

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