Organizational Responsibilities and a Troubled Physician

Organizational Responsibilities and a Troubled Physician

Legal Aspects

Main Liability

At the moment, the main liability of the hospital is Dr. Smith. Being one of the profound cardiac surgeons, he is enjoying privileges from the hospital. That is the reason; the hospital management wanted him to be a partner in the development of the cardiovascular institute. However, the present condition of Dr. Smith as mentioned in the case is not very much attractive and thus with the passage of time, Dr. Smith will be turned into a high profile liability over the hospital.

Hospital face Liability

Based upon the evidence available in the case, hospital might face the liability in future because of the negligence of Dr. Smith at certain situations. For example, the hospital staff reported that Dr. Smith had been witnessed in a state of inebriation at various occasions (Guido, 2010). Similarly, on one occasion, a nurse reported the negligence of the doctor regarding the surgery and again the reason was that the doctor was drunk. Therefore, the author is of the view that, if the management did not take a positive step in this matter than it could lead to that position where the hospital might face the liability.

Hospital's Authority

The hospital management is the supreme authority and all the responsibility lies on them. However, as Dr. Smith is an important asset of the hospital, therefore, management cannot take any decision that could risk the hospital's reputation. However, in this particular situation, CEO of the hospital has the supreme authority over the issues (Cowen & Moorhead, 2011).

Employee or Contractor

Things will be eventually different if the physician were an employee instead of a contractor because against the employee the management could take serious action if the management found the employee's negligence in the professional work. However, in the case of the contractor, management's role is limited. Whereas, in the second half of the question, things will be entirely different, if Dr. Smith became the partner in the cardiovascular institute, it means that Dr. Smith now hold equity in the hospital share and partnership is very sensitive issue, and witnessing the present condition of Dr. Smith, in the shorter run, cardiovascular project might be beneficial for the hospital management but in the long run this might not be as much successful (Steinberg, 2007).

Advice to CEO

The further information required in this situation is that what actually ...