You are a junior doctor and your consultant [your boss, the head of your team] arrives for the morning ward round smelling of alcohol. You confront him and he confides in you that he was drinking because he was upset because his wife left him the day before and asks you not to tell anyone. How would you handle this situation?
It is important to consider this scenario from the view point of all involved.
Your consultant’s point of view: He is going through a difficult period in his personal life and now by coming to work in this fashion he is jeopardising is career and standing in the hospital. However it is much better that he takes sick leave, the stress as well as the drinking would make it hard to concentrate and mistakes which in medicine can have terrible consequences are almost bound to happen. He should not feel that it is a weakness to seek help, we are all vulnerable and there are services such as occupational health, BMA counselling services that are available free of charge to doctors. It is important that he has insight and does not worsen his situation by trying to ‘soldier on.’
The hospital/NHS point of view: The hospital has a reputation to protect and will be sued for any mistakes made. If the consultant is off hand or rude this may lead to complaints. It certainly cannot have its staff coming to work intoxicated. However the consultant is a very skilled, experienced member of its workforce and has given many years of loyal service so be treated with empathy and compassion. He should be encouraged to use the counselling services available and given time off work but it should be made clear that coming to work in this manner is unacceptable.
The patient’s point of view: – the most important. Patients have the right to be treated safely and courteously by attentive staff that have their full wits about them. Medicine has the potential to cause serious harm as well as good.
Your view point: As a junior doctor your consultant is your team leader, mentor and teacher. He will also be the person who will give you a reference for future jobs. It is therefore important to still treat him with respect and courtesy. He as a person going through a difficult time deserves sympathy and empathy. However you have a duty to your patients and patient care and safety trumps all – ‘make the patient your first concern.’ It would be going against the GMC rules and probably hospital policy if you tried to cover up, even if no one came to harm. It may be the first time you have seen him like this but other occasions may have occurred and there may be a repeating pattern.
You should ensure that your consultant stops working, that he goes home [by taxi, does not drive]. That all patients he has seen have their notes reviewed, that you inform the relevant authority and seek help with that day’s work.