| In 1980, a special program was developed for | | | | is the most successful. |
| doctors with drug and alcohol abuse problems. The | | | | The hearing that motivated the MBC to finally end |
| program allows doctors to continue practicing while | | | | the alcohol and drug rehab program included |
| undergoing alcohol or drug rehab. However, according | | | | testimony from 10 patients who were harmed by |
| to the Medical Board of California (MBC), five status | | | | enrolled doctors. One woman said she was disfigured |
| reports on the program have proven it to be | | | | by plastic surgery she later found out was |
| inefficient and dangerous to patients. The MBC has | | | | inappropriate for her condition. The plastic surgeon |
| decided to cancel the program as of next June. | | | | had two drunk driving arrests and several reports of |
| Unless the program is extended by legislation, doctors | | | | negligence from patients, but was still allowed to |
| with alcohol and drug abuse problems may then have | | | | continue in practice. |
| their licenses revoked with zero tolerance. Doctors | | | | Over $500,000 has been spent recently to fix the |
| abusing drugs or alcohol would be wise to take a | | | | problems found in the first four reports, but state |
| leave of absence and get into a successful alcohol or | | | | auditors are not impressed with the improvements. |
| drug rehab program rather than take that risk. | | | | "The medical board ... has not provided consistently |
| The program requires alcohol or drug testing, group | | | | effective oversight," the auditor, Elaine Howle, wrote |
| therapy and psychotherapy sessions as well as a | | | | in her report. Julianne D'Angelo Fellmeth, an attorney |
| designated independent monitor who oversees each | | | | with the University of San Diego's Center for Public |
| doctor's practice. However, according to status | | | | Interest Law, called the program "a sham and a |
| reports, these requirements are easy to mess with: | | | | travesty." |
| sometimes the monitor is one of the doctor's | | | | The program treats 400 doctors every year. |
| employees who has been ordered to lie, or no one | | | | Currently 249 are enrolled. Of those, 140 were |
| ensures that the doctor is attending therapy | | | | ordered into the program by the medical board, and |
| sessions, or the urine tests are done on a predictable | | | | 99 entered the program because they were |
| schedule so the doctor can also schedule his ingestion | | | | encouraged to do so by family, friends or peers. |
| of alcohol or drugs accordingly. | | | | There are 35,000 doctors in California and they all |
| One doctor enrolled in the five-year program said he | | | | worked hard and long to get where they are. |
| was able to fool the system for years and almost | | | | California has many successful alcohol and drug rehab |
| "graduated" while he was still using drugs. | | | | programs. If you know a doctor who is abusing drugs |
| One of the major reasons for the program's failure | | | | or alcohol, get them into a successful alcohol or drug |
| may be that doctors who continue to practice while | | | | rehab program now. Don't let them risk everything |
| undergoing alcohol or drug abuse treatment do not | | | | they've worked for, and the lives and health of their |
| have access to long-term inpatient drug rehab, which | | | | patients. |