Problem Doctors: Is There a System-Level Solution?

Abstract

Letters6 June 2006Problem Doctors: Is There a System-Level Solution?Mark S. Gold, MD and Kimberly Frost-Pineda, MPHMark S. Gold, MDFrom the University of Florida McKnight Brain Institute, Gainesville, FL 32611.Search for more papers by this author and Kimberly Frost-Pineda, MPHFrom the University of Florida McKnight Brain Institute, Gainesville, FL 32611.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-144-11-200606060-00015 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:As Leape and Fromson (1) explained in their recent article, substance abuse and dependence are significant problems among physicians and have negative consequences for the physicians themselves, their families, and their patients. We have evaluated, treated, and reported on impaired physicians for more than 3 decades. Alcohol abuse and dependence are no more common among physicians than among similarly matched controls; however, prescription misuse, opiate abuse and dependence, and suicide seem to be more common among physicians. Physicians, however, may not be a single homogeneous group. Our recent work has shown that anesthesiologists, surgeons, and emergency department ...