Isolating Flashcards
You are a medical SHO working on a busy acute medical ward. One of your colleagues called in sick with an upper respiratory tract infection and has informed the consultant in charge that they are recuperating at home. You have since seen them posting pictures to social media of themselves in a restaurant with friends. They should have been on a night shift when the photos were posted and the team on nights were left short-handed because of their absence.
What are the issues that you have identified with this scenario?
There are multiple issues that this scenario raises, and the interviewers will want to see how you would prioritise each and work through them. Questions like these will be easier to answer if you are familiar with the GMC text ‘Good medical practice’.
Patient safety
* The team was left short-handed during a night shift, potentially compromising patient care. If the doctor acted inappropriately, this would raise concerns about their professionalism and probity
Professionalism
* The doctor’s actions raise concerns about their conduct, responsbility, and adherence to public health guidance
* By ignoring isolation advice for respiratory symptoms, they may contribute to the spread of disease, putting others at risk
* Their absence has increased stress and workload for colleagues
Probity
* If the doctor falsely reported illness to attend a social event, this raises significant concerns about honesty and integrity
What steps would you take to address this situation?
I would first speak to my colleague, as these pictures could be from a different time, so gathering information in this scenario will be important
If I discovered that my colleague used the symptoms as a way of attending the event in question, it would be important to discuss with them why this is an issue and how it can impact their patients and colleagues they work with.
Ideally, they would discuss this themselves with their direct consultant or supervisor.
If this didn’t happen and I remained concerned, I would escalate this with the medical registar on the acute medical ward, or the individual’s direct supervisor (e.g. consultant, clinical or educational supervisor)
What do you understand by professionalism, and why is it important in healthcare?
A set of values, behaviours, and standards like integrity, empathy, and competence that build trust between patient and doctors, ensure accountability, and prioritise patient welfare. It is essential for fostering trust, delivering quality care, and maintaining the profession’s reputation.
What is meant by probity and why is it important?
**Being honest, trustworthy, and acting with integrity, which is central to medical professionalism. Essential for building trust in doctor-patient relationships, fostering openness, and ensuring effective teamwork for patient safety.
