Kentucky plastic surgeon Theodore Gerstle, MD, was arrested by police earlier this week after he arrived at Baptist Health Lexington intending to perform a procedure while under the influence of alcohol.
According to a report in the Lexington Herald-Leader, Gerstle checked into the hospital at approximately noon on Monday. Although Gerstle is not officially on the staff of Baptist Health, he has operating privileges there. He reportedly had one procedure on the schedule Monday afternoon.
When hospital staff was alerted to Gerstle’s inebriated condition, the situation was quickly reported to the chief medical officer. After a conversation with Gerstle, the surgeon departed the hospital, and the police were called. Lexington law enforcement officers arrested Gerstle nearby, charging him with public intoxication.
Baptist Health officials say Gerstle’s staff privileges with the facility have been suspended as they conduct an investigation of the incident.
“Patient safety is always our number one concern, every day,” hospital spokesperson Ruth Ann Childers said, according to the Herald-Leader. “We take these things very seriously and it will be thoroughly investigated.”
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