New ethics case study, “When an Aging Colleague Seems Impaired”

“When an Aging Colleague Seems Impaired” is a new ACP ethics case study that is available online for CME credit. This case study explores the physician's ethical obligation to address a colleague's (or one's own) impairment in order to protect the safety of patients and to assist the impaired physician.

Addressing apparent impairment in a colleague can be uncomfortable; however, the privilege of self-regulation that society affords the medical profession carries with it both a shared and an individual responsibility to ensure that members of the profession have the ability to practice with reasonable skill and safety.

This case study, and other case studies in the professionalism case study series, is available on the College's website.