A registered nurse in Pennsylvania has been charged with reckless endangerment, driving under the influence and public drunkenness after he was accused of helping with an emergency surgery at Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) VA Medical Center while drunk, according to a Citizen's Voice report.
Richard Pieri allegedly was slurring his speech and struggled to perform his duties during the surgery on Feb. 4, according to the report.
Mr. Pieri told police in an interview he had forgotten he was on call and had four to five beers while at a casino prior to the surgery, according to the report.
The patient was readmitted to the hospital after surgery due to stomach pain.