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Impaired physician reporting — USMLE Step 2 CK MCQ

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HardEthics, patient safety, quality improvementImpaired physician reportingUSMLE Step 2 CK

Minutes before an elective operation, an anesthesiologist smells alcohol on the attending surgeon, who is slurring words and unsteady. The surgeon insists on proceeding and says a colleague can quietly assist. What should the anesthesiologist do first?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: E — Stop the surgeon from operating and alert clinical leadership

Explanation lettering: B = shown as A · A = shown as B · E = shown as C · C = shown as D · D = shown as E

D is correct: an apparently impaired physician poses an immediate patient-safety risk, so the anesthesiologist must stop that physician from practicing and activate institutional clinical leadership or physician-health channels. A cannot transfer clinician impairment risk to the patient. B does not remove the impaired operator. C postpones action until after preventable harm. E treats confidentiality as overriding the duty to protect patients.

Reference: AMA Code of Medical Ethics: physician responsibilities to impaired colleagues. https://code-medical-ethics.ama-assn.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/9.3.2%20Physician%20responsibilities%20to%20impaired%20colleagues%20--%20background%20reports.pdf