A junior doctor notices a senior colleague smelling of alcohol before a ward round. What should she do?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Raise the concern promptly through the proper route to protect patients
- Step 1: Patient safety comes first under Good medical practice.
- Step 2: Concerns should be raised promptly with a senior, responsible officer or the GMC if needed.
Answer
Raise the concern promptly through the proper route to protect patients.
Why not the others: Post about it on social media: Social media breaches professionalism. Confront him alone and wait a month before involving anyone else: Delay is unsafe. Do nothing out of loyalty to a senior colleague and avoid any confrontation: Staying silent risks harm.
Practise more Professionalism, regulation and law.
Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed PLAB 1 (GMC, international medical graduates) mock tests.
More Professionalism, regulation and law questions
- A hospital doctor realises she gave a patient ten times the intended dose of a drug, causing temporary harm. What does the professional duty…
- A doctor has been charged with a criminal offence. What does the GMC require?
- A consultant is offered a hospitality package worth several hundred pounds by a pharmaceutical company that supplies drugs she prescribes. W…
- A patient develops a close friendship with her GP and asks for a date. What does the GMC require of the doctor?
- A consultation with a patient who speaks little English is being interpreted by the patient's 10-year-old son. What is the best practice?
- A GP is about to perform an intimate examination on a woman. What should he offer?