Description

The Board criticized not only the surgeon for his recalcitrant attitude in accepting this case, but also the Craig Developmental Center physician, and stated that as a licensed practicing physician, he had a responsibility to assure that his patient was receiving the appropriate level of care. The Board observed that it is not accepted medical practice that permission be sought from attending physicians in order to utilize a hospital's emergency service, and he abrogated his responsibility as an advocate for the mentally disabled by knowingly allowing a lesser level of care to be afforded this client than he would have tolerated with private patients.