PLANTSVILLE, CT – (January 8, 2010) – Partner John F. Costa was a guest lecturer on January 8, 2010 at the Annual Conference of the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians. Costa’s presentation focused on the statutory duty of physicians to report colleagues who may be unfit to practice medicine due to incompetence or impairment.
Along with Dr. James B. Sprague and Dr. Anne M. Menke of Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company, Attorney Costa addressed a group of Connecticut ophthalmologists regarding “Peer Responsibilities in the Assessment of the Impaired Physician.” The objective of the seminar was to sensitize physicians regarding the identification of the challenged colleague, how to address concerns in an objective manner and how to fulfill ethical and legal duties and reporting obligations. Costa reported on Connecticut’s statutory obligation for health care providers, including hospitals and individual physicians, who have information indicating that another physician may be unable to safely render medical care to patients based on physical, mental or emotional impairments or incompetence. Costa also discussed the qualified immunity that is afforded to physicians when they fulfill their duty to report a challenged colleague and the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the law on this issue.