“Bill” has been your colleague for 10 years. He has been a good clinician and educator, and was promoted last year to associate professor at your institution. Over the last six months, however, Bill has been moody, gruff and argumentative with staff and surgeons. He seems preoccupied and has lost interest in teaching. Should you say something? What should you do?
Inevitably, our colleagues and each of us individually will experience low periods in our personal and professional lives. For physicians, it is important to recognize challenges that negatively affect our professional demeanor and can reduce vigilance. Unfortunately, many physicians are not adept at introspection and personal observation, leaving it to those around them to observe changes in behavior that may be associated with unsafe practice. This common situation is complicated by a lack of knowledge or lack of desire on the part of partners, colleagues and friends to note...
