O'Connor was known for his hot temper and drinking.

Dr. O'Connor was known for his hot temper and drinking. Although he claimed never to come to work under the influence, nurses, physicians, and other coworkers had their doubts, and several expressed their alarm to their supervisors. The emergency room needed coverage, and it was hard to find physicians who would work the graveyard shift, so little was done to address these concerns. One night, Dr. O'Connor walked across a clearly marked wet floor that the custodian had just mopped. When the angry janitor protested loudly and pointed to the bright yellow sign and the offending footprints, Dr. O'Connor took a swing at the other man and a fistfight ensued.

Discussion Questions

1. What should the hospital do to deal with the good doctor? Who should handle this?
2. What role, if any, did the janitor play in this incident? What could he have done differently?
3. Where should Dr. O'Connor be referred-anger management, Alcoholics Anonymous, psychiatric evaluation? Provide a rationale for your response.
4. How can this incident be turned into a "teachable moment" for the staff, physicians, and others?
5. How could this have been prevented?