L.V. Stabler Memorial Hospital confirmed this week that a physician was relieved of his duties following a lab test that showed he was intoxicated while working a shift in the emergency room.

While the hospital could not confirm the doctor’s identity due to hospital policy, a Montgomery television station said Wednesday that &uot;someone close to the situation&uot; confirmed to them the physician was Dr. Danny Hood, the hospital’s chief of staff.

While he could not confirm the physician’s name involved in the incident, hospital administrator Daniel Perryman said the doctor was not an employee of L.V. Stabler, but was a physician in private practice that was on contract with the hospital through another company.

According to reports Hood was on duty last Friday in the hospital’s emergency room when a co-worker reported that Hood appeared intoxicated. In its statement the hospital said Hood’s intoxication was confirmed by a laboratory test but it did not say if Hood was legally drunk at the time the test was administered.

Once the lab test confirmed Hood’s apparent intoxication the hospital said he was immediately relieved of his duties and they confirmed that the appropriate regulatory bodies were being notified of this occurrence.

Hood, who graduated from the University of South Alabama Medical College in 1976 with a specialization in internal medicine, had been in private practice for more than 25 years in Greenville. While the incident has put Hood in a bad light, people in the community feel like his contributions far exceed any personal problems he may be struggling with.

&uot;He’s a good physician,&uot; said local resident Jim Dunklin. &uot;I’ve personally used him and he’s been a good physician for this community for the past 25 years and has helped numerous people.&uot;

While Hood’s privileges with the hospital have been revoked, Perryman said that patients should not worry that their level of medical care will diminish.

&uot;We have other qualified physicians that are accepting new patients,&uot; he said. &uot;And all our patients can expect to continue receiving an extremely high level of care.&uot;

Connie Nicholas, the assistant administrator, echoed Perryman’s sentiments about the hospital’s commitment to its patients.

&uot;We are actively seeking a new internal medicine physician for this community,&uot; she said. &uot;We continually recruit for new physicians.

Also, we are currently seeking a pediatrician to practice locally.&uot;

Perryman said those who are having difficulty finding a physician could contact hospital administration at 383-2201 and they will be assisted.

Dr. Hood could not be reached for comment.