Physician's Story of addiction a Cautionary Tale for Health Professionals

An Ontario physician's story of addiction, criminal conviction and job loss serves as a warning tohealth professionals that they can lose their career if they don’t seek help early, says Elyse Sunshine.

“If a physician or any other regulated health professional who suffers from an addiction is found to be incapacitated under the Regulated Health Professions Act, they could have their “licence to practise” restricted or not be permitted to practise their profession at all,” she tells AdvocateDaily.com. Sunshine comments on the issue after Toronto Life published a story about the emergency room doctor, who says he had “a perfect life: gorgeous wife, three kids and a beautiful waterfront house” and then “got hooked on fentanyl and lost it all.”

The magazine details, in the man’s own words, his downward spiral from successful physician to someonewho lost his job, declared bankruptcy and pleaded guilty to a number of criminal charges. After the article was published, he was sentenced to two years in prison for trafficking and one year for forgery, to be served concurrently, reports CTV News.

“I’m embarrassed that my life has become a cautionary tale, but I’m thankful­ that I got caught. Had I not been arrested, I’m certain I’d be dead right now,” he says.

The man notes that after he serves his sentence, he will have to face the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario discipline committee. His medical licence is suspended and he expects the regulator will revoke it. However, he hopes to practise again in the area of addiction, says the magazine. “I became a doctor so that I could help people. I messed up my life, but I can still help others avoid the same fate,” he says. Sunshine commends the physician for being so honest about his experience with fentanyl and other drugs.

“It's admirable he's being so open because addiction is a problem people don’t often talk about, especially health professionals, even though it's common," she says. Sunshine says it’s important for health professionals to be cognizant of the impact of not seeking help for addiction and other health problems.

“Health issues — including addiction or mental health concerns such as bipolar disorder — that aren’t well managed could have professional ramifications,” she says. A regulatory college, like The College of Physicians and Surgeons, will be required to investigate if it has concerns that a doctor is suffering from a physical or mental condition that would make it in the public’s interest to restrict their practice or not have them practise at all, Sunshine explains.

“In what’s called fitness-to-practise matters, the College may request medical information and require the health professional to go for health assessments,” she says. “If ultimately, there are unmanaged health conditions or conditions that impact on the ability to practise safely, the College can limit a physician’s ability or practise or stop them from practising completely.”

Fitness-to-practise matters, which are different from disciplinary matters, involve the College fulfilling its public-interest mandate to make sure professionals are safe to work from a health perspective and there is no risk to the public, Sunshine says.

“It's important health professionals know that while the regulatory body may be willing to work with them around a health issue, it is a complicated process and the College's priority is the public interest, which trumps the professional’s situation," she says. It’s also key for doctors and other regulated health professionals, such as nurses and physiotherapists, to reach out for help early, and ideally before their regulator gets involved, Sunshine says. Health professionals who seek help (and legal advice) before their lives truly spiral out of control will be more likely to be able to prevent or resolve College issues quickly; failure to do so could mean facing disciplinary proceedings where the focus will be on punishing misconduct rather than supporting the profession, she says.

“However, sometimes, of course, it’s hard for people to recognize they have a problem and that is an inherent part of their condition,” she says. “This is why it’s important for colleagues and family members to do what they can to help persuade anyone they suspect of having a problem to get help. It can avoid or minimize the potential for disaster, personally and professionally.”

Sunshine says it’s also important to note that some health professionals often have ready access to drugs in the workplace and because of their medical knowledge, their drug use may go undetected longer than most people. “Health professionals aren’t super human and can fall victim to addiction and other problems like anyone,” she says.