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.

1. 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.