The University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) has terminated the employment of a 47-year-old anesthesiologist following a series of incidents involving alcohol abuse on the job. According to the Dagblad van het Noorden, the physician, who had been previously suspended for alcohol-related misconduct, was found to have entered patient rooms without authorization and impersonated a treating physician.
Despite numerous warnings from colleagues about the anesthesiologist’s drinking problem over several years, the UMCG was reportedly limited in its ability to take action due to legal constraints. However, a DUI arrest in November 2023, in which the physician was found to have a blood alcohol content six times the legal limit, solidified the hospital’s suspicions.
Even after being suspended, the anesthesiologist persisted in attempting to gain access to operating rooms and patient rooms. In June 2024, the physician was discovered multiple times in patient rooms wearing a white coat and falsely presenting himself as the attending physician. This included providing inaccurate treatment advice to a terminally ill patient.
These violations of medical ethics and patient safety led to the UMCG’s decision to terminate the anesthesiologist’s employment. The hospital has reported the incident to the Dutch Healthcare Inspectorate and has contacted all affected patients.
While the hospital has taken decisive action in this particular instance, it remains unclear whether systemic issues within the organization contributed to the prolonged nature of the problem.
