Safety measures

[Paw2285]

Hi all,I had an interesting conversation with one of techs tonight about safety measures in the OR. He was telling me that about 15 years ago there were a few surgeons who would repeatedly come to the OR smelling like alcohol but there was nothing that could be done or said about it. In our facility we have the right to make a safety reports but he said that the overall culture is that nothing is really done. So I am asking in your opinions, what would you do if you know you we're working with a surgeon who was unsafe (either incompetent, or chemically impaired), would you still go into the OR with them?I also remember at the last facility I worked at, there where rumors that one of our surgeons was incompetent. He had several lawsuits going against him and yet the hospital let him operate. Apparently he had an "in" with the CEO.At your facilities, what are the options that you can make without jeopardizing your license? At the end of the day would you refused to go in an OR with a Dr. Who was not able to preform?Just curious what you would do and if your hospital offers you any protection?

[ORoxyO]

I had a case about a year ago with a very old attending. The case was boarded late the day before and none of the residents were told about it. When the doc showed up we told him we hadn't seen any residents, and he asked us to call around. We did, but everyone was tied up. The surgeon reluctantly went ahead. During the case he had no idea what he was doing. Usually the residents did it all. It was frightening. (After the case I went to the head of his department and had a chat with him, and told him exactly what happened. We have a good working relationship at our hospital). They actually investigated the matter and ended up telling the surgeon that he could only operate with one of his colleagues (attendings) scrubbed in as well. We never saw him again.

I felt bad basically ending this man's career, he was so nice. But in the end, it's all about safety. We were all kinda surprised that they took action so fast.