A Wollongong Hospital anaesthetist fired after being found drunk on the job has been controversially reinstated on strict conditions including daily breath testing.
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Dr Michael Petr was sacked by the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District after he abandoned an anaesthetised patient mid-operation on May 20 last year. Concerned staff later found him passed out drunk in a locked room on hospital premises.
The doctor had previously been placed on the Medical Council of NSW’s Impaired Registrants Program after he was caught driving to work with an alcohol reading three times the legal limit in April 2011.
Conditions imposed at the time included that he not consume alcohol at all, and that he undergo urine testing for alcohol twice a week.
He began drinking again in January 2016 leading to the May 20 incident which prompted the medical council to impose more stringent conditions on his licence.
However in September his position as a visiting medical officer (VMO) was terminated by the ISLHD, with an official stating the critical issue was ‘’one of trust’’.
‘’I must make the protection of patients the paramount consideration in relation to determining whether to take disciplinary action,’’ the official stated. ‘’I have lost trust in your ability to provide safe care to patients at all times.’’
Dr Petr, 49, who obtained his medical degree in the Czech Republic and arrived in Australia in 2000, immediately appealed the decision.
His appeal was opposed by the health district due to the ‘’risk of relapse’’. However a review committee upheld the appeal on May 30, paving the way for reinstatement.
The committee imposed strict conditions on Dr Petr including daily breath and urine testing, and supervision. It noted his evidence that he is currently able to comply with his conditions at Shellharbour Private Hospital where he has been working.
‘’We accept that Dr Petr has agreed to work under the conditions imposed by the medical council and that he has made a commitment to remain abstinent from alcohol,’’ the review stated.
‘’He attends …. a clinical psychologist at regular intervals and attends AA and Doctors in Recovery each week.’’
A statement issued by ISLHD chief executive Margot Mains on Friday said: ‘’Before he resumes any duties as a VMO, the district would need to be satisfied that Dr Petr will meet the conditions required of him to practice, and any other additional conditions the district may apply following a full clinical risk assessment.’’
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard added: ‘’My primary obligation is to patients and I remain concerned at the doctor coming back to work until he has addressed the issues he needs to address.’’