AHS Views

In a Miami Herald article about a psychologist being investigated for drug abuse, Eulinda Jackson, a spokesperson for the Department of Health said “everything about this case is confidential”, including the psychologist’s name and whether or not he’s still practicing. Dr. Sidney Wolfe of the Washington-based consumer group Public Citizen commented that ‘doctors like to protect doctors,” and Raymond Pomm, head of the group that handles the impaired physicians’ program said ”If we don’t protect them, they won’t come knocking on the door.” A fine state of affairs - the medical professionals we depend on to take care of our health not only have drug problems themselves, their level of ethics is so low that if there’s a chance anyone will find out they have a problem, they won’t even get the addiction help services they need. What about their responsbility to their patients?

I realize that we’re not talking about all doctors by a long shot and I also realize that doctors are human like everyone else and have the same problems as anyone has who is driven to drugs or alcohol. But, they also hold a position of public trust that should not be violated or compromised. How can a doctor who’s stoned possibly guarantee that he will do no harm to his patients?

There are plenty of options out there for doctors.  A private, confidential Florida drug detox centers would be their first step.

The drug problem the psychologist written about in the article had is now being addressed - but only because his ex-wife saw drugs and drug paraphernalia at his house and wrote a letter to the authorities about it. If you know a doctor with a drug or alcohol problem, do them a favor and do the same thing. Write that letter. He will not only get the drug addiction help he needs, you could save his career, his life, and the lives of some of his patients.