They need to be stopped. It occurred in this episode, as the impaired medical student wanted to help her friends in need. Attempting to provide care to patients is unethical if a health care professional is under the influence of alcohol or other mood-altering substances. Providing care to patients when under the influence of alcohol or mind-altering drugs has the potential for doing harm. Health care professionals should never be too drunk to care.
Patients deserve more.
Literature and Medicine. American Society of Addictive Medicine. Public policy statement on principles of medical ethics. When the doctor's on drugs.