A Queensland surgeon, Dr. Alexandra Mowat, has spoken about a "rock bottom" moment that led to her suspension and resignation after she was found to be under the influence of alcohol during a surgical procedure. The incident occurred on March 24, 2024, at a hospital in Brisbane's south.
Dr. Mowat, an obstetrics and gynaecology specialist and the hospital's on-call Senior Medical Officer that weekend, was called to perform a semi-urgent diagnostic laparoscopy for a woman with a suspected ovarian torsion. She had consumed alcohol with friends earlier that afternoon, including two larger-than-standard glasses of red wine and a mixed drink containing vodka and gin. She arranged for a family member to drive her to the hospital, arriving around 6:24 p.m.
Several staff members observed Dr. Mowat exhibiting signs of impairment, including bumping into a person in the corridor, appearing unwell and spaced out, and swaying. Colleagues reported she had difficulty maintaining her position between the patient's legs without contaminating herself and incorrectly inserted a urinary catheter. These concerns were raised with the consultant anaesthetist, leading to Dr. Mowat being asked to leave the operating theatre.
The operation was delayed by 40 minutes while another doctor attended to complete the procedure. The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal deputy president Dearne Firth ruled that Dr. Mowat's actions were a "serious lapse of judgment" and characterized the conduct as professional misconduct.
In her closing remarks, Judge Firth stated that while the patient was not harmed, the risk was mitigated by prompt action from other staff. "The absence of actual harm does not lessen the seriousness of the conduct," she said. The tribunal was satisfied that Dr. Mowat's conduct fell substantially below the standard expected of a practitioner of her experience level. She was reprimanded for professional misconduct and for potentially endangering patient safety.
Dr. Mowat acknowledged her conduct was "completely unacceptable" and admitted it constituted professional misconduct. She stated, "I wasn't at my best that night. It was my rock bottom." She has since been working in private practice and expressed gratitude for the support she has received.
