It is not a violation of someone’s medical oath to consume alcohol. However, it is important for medical professionals to know that the use of alcohol or other drugs could have an impact on the level of care they’re able to provide to their patients. If their usage is so frequent—or if they drink such a substantial amount—that it causes them to make clear medical errors, then it could be a risk to their medical license.
This is worth pointing out because some studies show that alcohol use in particular is fairly common among medical professionals. They often cite the fact that this is a high-stress industry. People will use alcohol to alleviate stress after long hours of work. In other cases, medical professionals are dealing with certain diseases or use disorders, such as alcohol addiction. Even if they wanted to stop, it would be difficult for them to do so.
The standard of care
It’s crucial for all doctors, nurses and surgeons to uphold the proper standard of care with every patient that they see. This doesn’t mean doctors are obligated to be perfect. Mistakes can and will happen, and even doctors who do everything correctly could still see adverse effects. They’re not going to save or help every single patient who comes to them.
But if there’s simply a negative outcome because it was a difficult case, that’s much different than if the surgeon or doctor was under the influence of alcohol and made avoidable mistakes. Patients do deserve to have a medical team that upholds the correct standard of care at every turn. If alcohol use affects this ability, then it could become an issue and lead to the loss of a license.
For a medical professional, losing a license can derail their career entirely. It’s very important for them to know exactly what steps to take at this time.
