Thousands Of Doctors Secretly In Rehab While Practicing

PLTSGT · Dec 22, 2007

I knew one pharmacist who lost his license because he was drinking cough syrup right out of the bottle, in clear sight of grocery store customers. Makes me think he WANTED to get caught.
And I had a classmate whose license was suspended because he was involved in meth manufacture. Can't say I was especially surprised, but was that a stupid decision on his part or what?
Another man who started off in my class was kicked out because he was selling marijuana.
The salutatorian of the class two years ahead of me thought she had a promising career at Walgreens :monkeydance::barf01:, where she had worked for 8 years as a technician. I met her at a summer convention, which we attended for free because we were students, and Walgreens had refused to hire her on as a pharmacist. It quickly became apparent why: she was a very severe alcoholic. I had guessed her to be in her early 40s but she was 27. To my knowledge, she has never had a "real" pharmacy job (just relief work in a rural area) and despite this, she works closely with the state board. She was married at the time, and I certainly hope she didn't have any kids.
We once had a man speak to our class who lost his license because he used his own drugs, and worked at a treatment center for health care professionals. The thing that really sticks in my mind is that he would drink bottles of Tylenol #3 liquid and chase it with Mucomyst to avert acetaminophen poisoning. When he said that, I said, out loud in the lecture hall, "This dude was hardcore!" because I knew what Mucomyst smells like.
Several of my classmates were not hired by the large hospital in our college town because they were involved in a prostitution ring. There was a guy in our class who was married and wanted to do some things sexually that his wife was not interested in, so he paid girls to do those things. Saying what they were would probably get me banned, so I will spare you, but it was pretty out there.
But one of my co-workers can top that. She had a classmate who killed somebody. His wealthy parents got the charges reduced to involuntary manslaughter, but anyway.......don't know where, or if, he's practicing anywhere.
I have known pharmacists who I believe used recreational drugs in their off hours, but if they were not stealing them from the workplace and it didn't affect their job performance, there really wasn't much their employers or the state board can do. This is certainly true for people who have non-licensed jobs as well.

I believe you. There are things that are happening out there even though society thinks that healthcare professionals are up on the pedestal. One thing for sure though, if a peer is out to get someone, he or she will stir things up just to get that using person in trouble regardless if the user uses drugs away from work and does not affect the job.

Do pharmacists have a similar support group like the ones in nursing? Ist it as supportive?

lindarn · Dec 22, 2007

Thank you Praise for raising this issue.
The typical scenario for the abusing nurse is he/she either shows up at work under the influence or makes the mistake of stealing drugs at work. This is discovered, a UA for drugs may be demanded, the nurse is brought down for "counseling" where admin tries to pressure him/her into confessing (followed by termination), and if no confession, termination of employment happens if there is sufficient evidence of impairment or theft in the employer's eyes. Most BONs require the facility to report terminations for cause, and especially if the "cause" is drug or alcohol-related. The facility must also report any controlled substance thefts to the FDA, in many states it must also be reported to the entity (such as the state health dept) that licenses the facility, and the facility may also choose to report it to local police. From this point, the nurse has to deal with the BON, usually on his/her own.
BONs are made up largely of other nurses, and many of them have had the "eat the young" type of attitude that drug abuse is not something a "good nurse" ever does. I do think that this attitude has improved some over time. The impaired nurse will wait to hear from the BON on the matter, have his/her license suspended or revoked, and be referred to a drug rehab program. If the nurse successfully completes the program, he/she can petition the BON for license reinstatement. The BON will require random UA drug checks for period of time. If the nurse fails the rehab or the UAs, the BON will move to permanently revoke the license if it was suspended.
Now, if it's a physician with the alcohol/drug abuse problem, the typical process is as follows. His/her impairment or drug diversion is discovered by the facility, which suspends his privilges to practice medicine at that facility and reports the situation to the medical board. (The rest of the reporting is the same as above--FDA, state heath dept, police). The physician calls one of the attorneys who specializes in medical board representation and finds out how to make the best out of his/her bad situation. This typically involves the physician and his/her attorney notifying the board about the sitation, surrendering the license, and going to a rehab program (typically an inpatient one, there are several in the country that specialize in treating physicians). After that, the physician can petition the medical board for reinstatement of the license. The board will require his/her practice be supervised and he/her will have to submit to random drug UAs.
The medical board members understand the huge financial impact of license loss to the physician, as well as the societal cost of loss of a valued practitioner. I think the BONs often figure the impaired nurse can just find another way to make a living without a nursing license, and the BON will have done its job to keep the public safe (as well as maintaining the integrity of the profession). I think this represents the differences between the two professions and is based in large part on the gender and financial differences between the two.
HollyVK RN, BSN, JD

Where I worked here in Spokane, we had a nurse who was suspected for a while of diverting narcotics. They placed a hidden camera in the medication room, and security monitored it. One night they finally caught her. The supervisor confronted her, and had called in the NM, Director of Nursing, called the police, who handcuffed her in front of everyone, staff, patients, family, and hauled her off to jail.

A couple of years before this, a male nurse was also suspected of diverting narcotics. When they caught him, if was a whole other story. He was allowed to go to a program, but remained on the job. He was just not allowed to carry the narcotic keys, or administer any controlled substances, and because they "wanted to protect his privacy", they decided that he would not float anywhere for a year, so he wouldn' have to reveal that he was in a drug program with the BON. What a difference gender makes!

Lindarn, RN ,BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

nurseboudin · Dec 23, 2007

I am an alcoholic nurse. In recovery of course. Understanding the disease of addiction is difficult. Doctors and nurses are held to a higher standard than the rest of society because our chosen professions demand ACCOUNTABILITY. This is as it should be.

There is no cure. It's a lot like diabetes. It requires continual strict maintenance or else we lose a little a time or a lot all at once. Diseases run different courses in different individuals.

Being accountable means owning up to it, and being actively engaged in recovery for the rest of your life. Addicts and alcoholics don't handle stress like the "normies" do. That's why we are the way we are. Because we can't handle anything without having "that certain something" to gain our comfort. Life is uncomfortable for us. We have to learn how to live in it even if that means being uncomfortable.

In my opinion, patients don't need to know that I'm an alcoholic in recovery. It's none of their business. BUT if I am engaged and participating in my addiction, I would expect any nurse who fully practices the standards of our profession to turn my drunk keester in to the BON. We are patient advocates. We do what's best for the patient, NOT THE NURSE.

Unfortunately denial is part of this disease - so many of us have to make a huge disaster out of our lives before we can even admit it. Denial is the anchor that gets us to our rock bottom state. We all need to get there before we can see how pathetic and miserable we really are. It's sad, but true.

rnmomtobe2010 · Dec 23, 2007

My ob doctor was young and so pretty. I could talk to her about anything. I was scheduled for a c-section Feb.28th and she informed me that her associate was going to be performing the surgery. I later found out that she was going to a rehab facility in Florida. The shock and hurt when I found out. I would not have ever thought in a million yrs. that she was an alcoholic!! Still hurts today. She had become sort of a mentor and helped me through the most difficult time of my life!!!

nurseboudin · Dec 23, 2007

That's so self-important.

rph3664 · Dec 23, 2007

Where I worked here in Spokane, we had a nurse who was suspected for a while of diverting narcotics. They placed a hidden camera in the medication room, and security monitored it. One night they finally caught her. The supervisor confronted her, and had called in the NM, Director of Nursing, called the police, who handcuffed her in front of everyone, staff, patients, family, and hauled her off to jail.
A couple of years before this, a male nurse was also suspected of diverting narcotics. When they caught him, if was a whole other story. He was allowed to go to a program, but remained on the job. He was just not allowed to carry the narcotic keys, or administer any controlled substances, and because they "wanted to protect his privacy", they decided that he would not float anywhere for a year, so he wouldn' have to reveal that he was in a drug program with the BON. What a difference gender makes!
Lindarn, RN ,BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington

Do you believe it was a gender thing? Do you know the whole story in both cases?

Maybe the female nurse had been caught many times before and/or had no desire to quit, and this was the male nurse's first known offense, and he wanted to get clean.

JMHO.

I just remembered that a pharmacist I once worked with, a few years ago, stole a 222 (the DEA form used for ordering C-II drugs and Brevital), ordered a huge quantity of pharmaceutical cocaine, and set up a crack lab in his house. His neighbors turned him in even before the 222 problem was caught because of all the seedy characters hanging around his house, and he was sent to prison.

The story gets weirder. He's over 60 years old.

When I was in school, I heard about a pharmacist in a small city in my region about whom it was common knowledge that she had gone to pharmacy school so she would have ready access to drugs. (I can think of easier ways to do it, but anyway......) She had a, ahem, very interesting boyfriend (VIB). One night, the pharmacy where she worked was broken into and all the controlled substances were stolen; it was done in such a way that authorities knew it was an inside job, but she and VIB denied any involvement and no evidence could be found that linked them to it.

What got her caught was that she took some expired C-IIs home with her, for her own personal use, and took the records with her as well. When the noose tightened, she tore up the records AND FLUSHED THEM DOWN THE TOILET!:sofahider

Of course, her toilet backed up, and the plumber found the records 99% intact when he retrieved them from the pipes in her house. Plumbers see this kind of thing more than people think.

I mean, why would you keep things like that laying around in your house, and FLUSH them instead of burning them? Guess it's really obvious that I'm not an addict.

p.s. I have a friend who once worked in substance abuse treatment. She said that a lot of people who stop using substances will develop some other compulsive behavior: religious fanaticism, hypersexuality, gambling (more common in men), eating disorders (more common in women), and so forth.

p.p.s. When I was in pre-pharmacy and much younger and dumber, I had a VIB of my own who once asked me, "If we're still together when you graduate, can you get drugs for me?" My response was, "Are you $%^& kidding?" He didn't understand why I, a non-user, wanted to be a pharmacist! weird.

longhornfan1 · Dec 23, 2007

I am also a "recovering" nurse. Texas has a Peer Asst. Program and I am on my last 5 months of a very long, stressful, demeaning, expensive, but necessary 2 year agreement with them. Started it after being screened for cause and was reported by the employer to TPAPN (Tx Peer Asst Prog 4 Nurses) and signed up for the program to prevent my nursing record from being damaged. At that time, the employer could simply report to TPAPN and let it go, since they passed the new bill, all employers must report to BON first and then the BON will refer to TPAPN for review. So, it will be on your record until you complete the program then it is just a tiny paragraph stating completion and wont be accessible by anyone else except the BON in case you get busted twice then it is bye bye from nursing. Have had ups and downs with them but was allowed to keep my LVN, get my RN and working towards my MSN. Found that mine was not a selfish addiction, but a "need to be perfect" drive that got me where I am now. Not sure if "addiction" is the right word, but will do and say what they tell me for another 5 months and then will decide. Good luck and keep an open mind. Not all of us started as Heroine users on the corner. My first taste was post op and could not get off the Vic's. Just like with DM the food is a choice too.

sharona97, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2007

Do you guys really care if your doctor smokes pot or drinks alcohol while he or she is off duty?
I do not. As long as he or she arrives to work clean and sober- why would anyone take his or her medical license for something that was done while NOT treating patients. If they get a DUI they should receive the same treatment as everyone else- not above and beyond. I guess I don't see why we expect Doctor's to be held to a higher code of whatever than the average Joe. Get a fine, do 30 days, whatever- but if it was not done while treating patients than leave the medical license out of it. I guess I just think that not everyone physician who uses recreational drugs such as alcohol and pot is an addict. I think that the term "recreational" for some people may in fact be just that.
Now don't everyone jump to the conclusion that I use recreational drugs- I don't- but other people who do do not strike terror in my heart. Now come to work or get behind the wheel drunk and I would fry your ass- but at home on your own time- feel free-it's your life.

Great, so the doc had a few days off, much needed I'm sure and went on a two day bender, drunk, coke ,whatever,crack,whatever. Then shows up to work in a sober "HUNG OVER" state of mind and is tired, not sharp but it's ok to have your family member treated or seen for a diagnosis, NOT MINE!:trout:

PLTSGT · Dec 23, 2007

Do you believe it was a gender thing? Do you know the whole story in both cases?
Maybe the female nurse had been caught many times before and/or had no desire to quit, and this was the male nurse's first known offense, and he wanted to get clean.
JMHO.

That's true. One cannot judge that incident and coincidence based on gender alone.

RPH, I like that story about that pharmacist ordering pharmaceutical coke and building up a homemade lab. Wow! Classic Hollywood quality.

PLTSGT · Dec 23, 2007

I am an alcoholic nurse. In recovery of course. Understanding the disease of addiction is difficult. Doctors and nurses are held to a higher standard than the rest of society because our chosen professions demand ACCOUNTABILITY. This is as it should be.
There is no cure. It's a lot like diabetes. It requires continual strict maintenance or else we lose a little a time or a lot all at once. Diseases run different courses in different individuals.
Being accountable means owning up to it, and being actively engaged in recovery for the rest of your life. Addicts and alcoholics don't handle stress like the "normies" do. That's why we are the way we are. Because we can't handle anything without having "that certain something" to gain our comfort. Life is uncomfortable for us. We have to learn how to live in it even if that means being uncomfortable.
In my opinion, patients don't need to know that I'm an alcoholic in recovery. It's none of their business. BUT if I am engaged and participating in my addiction, I would expect any nurse who fully practices the standards of our profession to turn my drunk keester in to the BON. We are patient advocates. We do what's best for the patient, NOT THE NURSE.
Unfortunately denial is part of this disease - so many of us have to make a huge disaster out of our lives before we can even admit it. Denial is the anchor that gets us to our rock bottom state. We all need to get there before we can see how pathetic and miserable we really are. It's sad, but true.

Calling addiction as a disease is still debatable. Most of the people "working the program" sees addiction as a perpetual disease and that is another addiction by itself. Others look at addiction as a self-fulfilling prophecy. Like I said it's moot.

BTW, some nurses who are in the monitoring program will pretend that they are zelous followers of Bill W. just so they won't get ostracized by others who are esurient 12 steppers and in turn losing their license. That's just one of the problems of most if not all, BON: 12 steps or nothing.

rph3664 · Dec 23, 2007

RPH, I like that story about that pharmacist ordering pharmaceutical coke and building up a homemade lab. Wow! Classic Hollywood quality.

Yeah, well, when he got arrested, his ex-wife had to get a second job because she was no longer receiving child support.

Most people who knew him, when they heard he had been married, assumed he had married a third world mail order bride but no, he had married a bank vice president who had gotten into her 30s and was THAT desperate to have a baby, she didn't care where, how, or from whom she got one. Two, actually, before she wised up and left his selfish a$$. Oh, sure, she could have adopted or gone to a sperm bank but she didn't want to pay for it all herself - but ended up doing so anyway.

They had always had to pay all their household expenses from her income because he spent all the money he made on himself, and he would brag about how he had never once changed a diaper or gotten up with his kids at night. (My response? "And I suppose you want people to feel sorry for you because you have to pay child support." Shut him up really fast!) He sued for custody so he wouldn't have to pay child support, and the lawyer basically laughed him out of the office because, among other things, he didn't even know his kids' birthdays or what schools they attended.

He had been in the military, and someone who was in his unit had said that even prostitutes wouldn't go near him. THAT is saying something!

woody62, RN · Dec 24, 2007

To the nurse who implied we should not be concerned if our physician uses drugs during his own time off. Bull hockey. My neurosurgeon lost his license after he was caught driving under the influence of alcohol. And he made it worse by snorting coke. He was all ways sober when ever I took a client to see him. And he was not under the influence when he performed all four of my surgeries. But had I known about his off duty drinking, he wouldn't have been my surgeon. When I stated that he was all ways sober, he all ways appeared sober but he might not have been.

Woody:balloons: