Treatment of the mentally ill physician.

Abstract

The Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) is committed to the humane and comprehensive care of mentally ill physicians. This includes recognition of illness, early diagnosis, confidential state-of-the-art treatment, return to work when the physician is well, advocacy, overcoming stigma, and research. Because of the close link between mental illness and competence to practise good medicine, the position of the CPA is to work closely with provincial medical licencing colleges and medical associations to educate, to promote mutual understanding, and to seek fairness (in both preserving physician autonomy and restricting licensure) so that no harm befalls a physician’s patients.