RT Book, Section
A1 Awoniyi, Caleb A.
A2 Freeman, Brian S.
A2 Berger, Jeffrey S.
SR Print(0)
ID 1102570391
T1 Physician Impairment
T2 Anesthesiology Core Review: Part One Basic Exam
YR 2014
FD 2014
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9780071821377
LK accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1102570391
RD 2024/04/20
AB Physician  impairment  is  an  important  issue  that  needs  to  be  identified  and  rectified  early.  If  not  treated,  it  poses  significant  problems  for  the  patients,  physician  himself,  colleagues,  and  hospital  staff.  Detrimental  effects  of  an  impaired  physician  may  include  loss  of  license,  dissolution  of  marriage,  family  problems,  health  problems,  and  even  death.  Therefore,  early  identification  and  treatment  is  imperative.  Fortunately,  once  identified  and  treated,  physicians  often  do  better  after  recovery  than  others,  and  typically  can  return  to  a  productive  career  and  a  satisfying  personal  and  family  life.  Unfortunately,  disciplinary  action  and  stigma  are  powerful  disincentives  to  physicians  referring  their  colleagues  or  themselves.  However,  physicians  have  an  ethical  responsibility  to  act  proactively  with  regards  to  impaired  colleagues  not  only  to  help  them,  but  also  to  protect  patients.