February 11, 2012

February 3, 2012 A drunk driving conviction can lead to some very unpleasant consequences with OPMC Read more [...]

January 30, 2012 I just recently concluded a negotiation with OPMC in a case involving a physician who was found to be drunk while examining patients in the office.  He was confronted by a fellow physician and ended up in a rehabilitation facility the next day.  He remained in rehab for about 12 weeks and then returned to work while entering an outpatient program with Committee for Physician Health (CPH). The Read more [...]

January 22, 2012

Substance Abuse

What is the effect of a DUI conviction regarding my medical license?

If you plead guilty to a felony or a misdemeanor you will certainly receive a letter from OPMC and the only issue will be what level of punishment will be handed to  you.  The most usual sanction is a Censure and Reprimand which is then posted on the OPMC website.  Also, you will have to reveal the sanction to hospitals, insurance companies and almost any other professional entity that you apply Read more [...]

What do I do if am facing a drunk driving criminal charge?

You first have to understand that if you plead guilty to a felony or misdemeanor you will have admitted that you are guilty of having committed a "crime". This conviction will no doubt be forwarded to the OPMC. But in any event, when you renew your medical license there will be a question asking have you been convicted of a crime since your last renewal. You must answer "yes" because a "no" answer Read more [...]

If I plead guilty to drunk driving what are the possible ramifications with OPMC?

If this is your first offense, things will be easier for you. You probably will be sanctioned and receive a fine. The degree of sanction and fine is to some extent dependant on your alcohol level. You also might have to go to substance abuse therapy and you will have to pay for that therapy. Obviously, if this is your second or third offense things get worse. The same is true if your drunk driving Read more [...]

If I am charged with substance abuse, be it alcohol or drugs, what can I do to help me keep my license?

One thing a medical professional can do to make things easier in the substance abuse arena is to join a program with the Committee for Physician Health, (CPH). A program with CPH will have you going to meetings on probably a weekly basis and you agree to random drug testing on a routine basis. Often there will be a contract that will last for 5 years for the meetings and testing. OPMC looks very favourably Read more [...]

If I have to go to Rehab, who will pay for the therapy?

Check your health insurance policy as it is quite possible that this therapy will be paid for. But, please read your policy carefully as there may be some clauses that limit coverage for this type of "illness".  I know of a situation where the health insurer paid for the first 7 weeks of therapy until the physician was allowed to spend a week-end at home.  The insurer refused to pay for the several Read more [...]

Can I recover any of my lost income while I am in Rehab?

Take a look at your disability policy, it may replace a great deal of your lost income while you are in Rehab.  But you have to understand that not all disability policies are the same.  The time to carefully read a disability policy to understand its terms is before you buy it, not when you are sitting in a rehabilitation facility.  Talk to your insurance broker about the available coverage to Read more [...]

Can a nurse maintain a license in a substance abuse situation?

The answer is a qualified yes.  A nurse, like a doctor, must start with rehabilitation therapy and that might convince the Department of Education that the nurse is capable of treating patients without being a danger to those patients.  The entire situation has to be handled very carefully with an experienced lawyer.