As a medical professional, you likely pride yourself on your accomplishment of obtaining your medical license in order to help those in need. However, this occupation often proves stressful, and you may find yourself in situations that involve you feeling overwhelmed by the decisions you must make. In some cases, the stress may become too much.
Impaired physician
When faced with the feeling of immense strain, some individuals may find themselves at risk of becoming an impaired physician. An impaired physician is considered to be a medical provider who cannot fully carry out the necessary duties due to a deterioration in skill. Drugs and alcohol abuse can easily result in a doctor finding him or herself in this category, and, unfortunately, many individuals dealing with overwhelming stress may turn down this road in order to cope.
If you have found yourself in such a predicament, you may feel alone and know that the risk exists of losing your professional license. Unfortunately, addiction may leave you unable to clearly determine how to avoid such an outcome.
Seeking help
If you have the ability to recognize your issues, you may also have the fortitude to understand that you need help. However, because the risk of license suspension or revocation may seem intimidating, you may try to handle the problem on your own. This route may prove less effective than seeking assistance from professional rehabilitation. Additionally, once you complete a program, you may have the ability to return to work with your skills and mental acuity intact.
Forced intervention
If you do not seek assistance with such an issue, the possibility exists that another colleague could recognize the signs of addiction or abuse and file a report. In these cases, you may feel backed into a corner as you could receive an application from the Professional Health Monitoring Program.
Legal options
Though the program offers support to you, you may want to find out more information about your options and how to handle your predicament before you sign the application and agree to the program. Ensuring that your rights are protected and how your situation could affect your medical license may be of importance to you.
Luckily, a legal professional may provide you with useful information as well as act as an advocate for your rights. Therefore, you may wish to consider contacting an experienced Pennsylvania attorney knowledgeable in the strategies used to address your specific needs.