As a patient, you probably want to think of doctors as professionals who are beyond reproach. The reality is that doctors are people and are subject to the same problems as other people, including drug or alcohol problems. If those problems become significant, a doctor could come to work intoxicated.
If you suspect your doctor was intoxicated, it is natural to ask what you should do if you think your doctor was intoxicated while examining you. It is not a situation most patients are prepared to face. It may be surprising to discover that the answer depends a little on how the doctor behaved during the visit and whether the intoxication hampered your ability to get quality healthcare.
Many of us are familiar with signs that someone is drunk or high on drugs. While it is certainly possible for a doctor to have those signs, many doctors who abuse alcohol or drugs are high-functioning. They may consume a substantial amount of intoxicating substances without showing obvious signs of intoxication.
While slurring, stumbling, and smelling like alcohol are all indications that a doctor may be intoxicated, they are not the only signs. If a doctor misses appointments or is frequently late to appointments, it can be a sign of intoxication. If there has been a decline in the doctor’s hygiene or grooming, it can be a sign of intoxication or other issue. Making mistakes or acting in an unprofessional manner are other signs of intoxication.
Of course, many of these signs can also be indicators of other problems. For example, making mistakes and not paying attention to grooming could be signs of depression, stress, or anxiety. However, patients should still be aware of these changes since they can impact the quality of care.
If you think your doctor was intoxicated while examining you or you see signs of potential intoxication on a repeated basis, report the issue to a supervisor or another doctor in the practice. When the doctor is a solo practitioner, this can be difficult. While you could discuss it with an office manager, doctors are usually the highest supervisors in solo practices. In those instances, you should report the doctor to the state medical board to help prevent any potential harm to other patients.
You may be in a vulnerable position when you go to a doctor for treatment, so You may not be able to notice signs of intoxication or respond appropriately. However, intoxicated doctors can cause serious problems. They can misdiagnose patients, prescribe the wrong medications, and misread charts.
The first thing you should do is seek a second opinion. You want to verify a diagnosis if you suspect your doctor was intoxicated. Delay taking any medication the doctor prescribed until you can verify it is appropriate for your condition and that it does not have any adverse interactions with your other medications.
Consider switching doctors if you see the doctor for ongoing care. If you are noticing signs that your doctor is intoxicated, there is a high probability that they have an underlying drug or alcohol issue that has impacted their judgment for a long time. You want to ensure that you have the correct diagnosis and treatment plan.
In some cases, the doctor’s intoxication during your examination may have led to severe negative consequences. You may not have been treated for an illness or may have received unnecessary treatment and medications if they misdiagnosed you.
When you think your doctor was intoxicated while examining you and that the intoxication led to injuries, you may have a medical malpractice claim. Doctors should never treat patients while under the influence, but the remedy when there are no injuries is to report the doctor and hope that they get treatment. If you have an established patient-doctor relationship, you may feel guilty, like you are betraying the doctor for reporting them.
Schedule a free consultation with a medical malpractice attorney. They can tell you whether the doctor’s conduct rose to the level of malpractice and help you with reporting so you can protect future patients.
We are highly selective in the cases we undertake to ensure that can give each client his full attention. You can schedule an appointment for a personal injury consultation at our Philadelphia office by calling us, or by filling out our online intake form.
