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Anesthesiologists with Substance Use Disorders: A 5-Year Outcome Study from 16 State Physician Health Programs
Anesthesia & Analgesia, 08/27/09

Skipper GE et al. – Anesthesiologists in the sample treated and monitored for substance disorders under supervision of PHPs had excellent outcomes similar to other physicians, with no higher mortality, relapse rate, or disciplinary rate and no evidence in their records of patient harm. It is postulated that differences of study design account for contradictory conclusions from other reports.

Exclusive Author Commentary
Gregory E. Skipper, 08/27/09

Many anesthesiologists and others have believed that their brethren have a worse prognosis following treatment for substance abuse and some go so far as to say that "recovering" anesthesiologists should not return to their profession. The study most often quoted, Menk et al, to substantiate this view was done years ago prior to the advent of physician health programs and the study was essentially an "opinion surveys" of anesthesiology program directors, asking about their experiences with addicted anesthesiologists. The current data we report is from the largest and only national follow-up study of anesthesiologists treated and monitored by state physician health programs. It showed that anesthesiologists had excellent outcomes, as good or better prognoses than all other physicians. The negative attitude regarding prognosis for anesthesiologists and their return to their profession may not be warranted. Addicted anesthesiologists should be immediately referred to the state physician health program.

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