You suspect a consultant colleague has been drinking on call. What is your duty?

Question

Accepted Answer

My overriding duty under Good Medical Practice paragraphs 24 and 25 is to act if I believe patient safety is at risk. If there is immediate risk on this shift I would act now: tactfully take the colleague aside, ensure they are not seeing patients, contact the on-call manager or another consultant to provide cover, and document factually what I observed without speculation. I would then raise my concern through the Trust's local procedures with the clinical director or medical director, in writing if necessary. The Trust has a duty to investigate fairly. If the concern is not addressed, the GMC's guidance allows escalation externally, ultimately to the GMC itself. Alongside this I would remember my colleague needs support — signposting them confidentially to occupational health, the Practitioner Health Programme and the BMA. Raising concerns is uncomfortable but it is a professional duty owed first to patients.

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