Your feeling is not "odd," but I think you misunderstand what likely happened.

First of all, the press probably got a hold of the physician's name. Then, the physician, being faced with an out of hospital death under unusual circumstances, became very cautious and asked for some legal advice.

Indeed, it is even possible that he may have notified his malpractice carrier of the incident and they provided an attorney.

I used to be a member of the Society of Medical Jurisprudence here in New York and it was often remarked that most physicians did not understand the "good samaritan" law which protects them from suit. For years, two law professors offered a substantial cash award at medical conventions for anyone who could produce proof of a lawsuit even being filed against a physician who was covered by the "good samaritan" law and no one ever collected. The reason is simple, such lawsuits are virtually impossible to win.

Since, as a lawyer, I have been in the position of getting a call from a physician who gave aid to the victim of a hit and run accident, I understand why someone in that position would be worried. In my case, my client had to testify at a hearing about the accident (not about his care) and he had never been to court before. He was worried. I helped him.

Nothing wrong with this at all.

No negative inference should be drawn about the physician just for this reason (and I don't know of any other reason either).