Berks County Medical Society Medical Record Summer 2018 - 17

From American College of Physicians' Ethics Manual, 6th Ed, 2012
"Every physician is responsible for protecting patients from
an impaired physician and for assisting an impaired colleague.
Fear of mistake, embarrassment, or possible litigation should
not deter or delay identification of an impaired colleague.
The identifying physician may find it helpful and prudent
to seek counsel from a designated institutional official, the
departmental chair, or a senior member of the staff or the
community.
Although the legal responsibility to do so varies among
states, there is a clear ethical responsibility to report a physician
who seems to be impaired to an appropriate authority (such
as a chief of service, chief of staff, institutional or medical
society assistance program, or state medical board). Physicians
and health care institutions should assist impaired colleagues
in identifying appropriate sources of help. While undergoing
therapy, the impaired physician is entitled to full confidentiality
as in any other patient-physician relationship. To protect
patients of the impaired physician, someone other than the
physician of the impaired physician must monitor the impaired
physician's fitness to work. Serious conflicts may occur if the
treating physician tries to fill both roles."

are impaired are deserving of thoughtful, compassionate care.
To protect patient interests and ensure that their colleagues
receive appropriate care and assistance, individually physicians
have an ethical obligation to:
(a) Intervene in a timely manner to ensure that impaired
colleagues cease practicing and receive appropriate
assistance from a physician health program.
(b) Report impaired colleagues in keeping with ethics
guidance and applicable law.
(c) Assist recovered colleagues when they resume
patient care.
Collectively, physicians have an obligation to ensure that
their colleagues are able to provide safe and effective care.
This obligation is discharged by:
(d) Promoting health and wellness among physicians.
(e) Establishing mechanisms to assure that impaired
physicians promptly cease practice.
(f ) Supporting peers in identifying physicians in need of
help.

From the AMA Code of Medical Ethics, 2017 Opinion 9.3.2
Physical or mental health conditions that interfere with a
physician's ability to engage safely in professional activities can
put patients at risk, compromise professional relationships, and
undermine trust in medicine. While protecting patients' wellbeing must always be the primary consideration, physicians who

(g) Establishing or supporting physician health programs
that provide a supportive environment to maintain and
restore health and wellness.

Pediatric and Adult Patients
Treating Ear, Nose, Throat Problems
Thyroid Nodules, Neck Masses & Sinusitis

Physicians:
James P. Restrepo, M.D., FACS, ECNU
Charles K. Lutz, M.D., FACS
Jeffrey S. Driben, M.D., FACS, ECNU
Scott J. Cronin, M.D.
ER
NN

2 017

Nurse Practitioner:

Rosemarie Montgomery
MS, CRNP, FNP-C

Providing diagnostic and rehabilitative services for all types of hearing
loss, for any age group.
Hearing and Balance Disorders
State of the Art Hearing Aid Fittings
In House Hearing Aid Repairs

Audiologists:

Kathleen D. Vivaldi, AuD, FAAA
Melanie A. Appler, AuD, FAAA
Matthew R. Bonsall, AuD, FAAA

ENT Head & Neck Specialists, PC
985 Berkshire Blvd., Wyomissing
610-374-5599 * www.ent-hns.net

SUMMER 2018

http://www.ent-hns.net

Berks County Medical Society Medical Record Summer 2018

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