Trust Your Intuition About a Provider's Possible Addiction

A story in the Phoenix New Times reminds us that healthcare providers, in this case doctors, are only human.

It reminds us, too, that it only makes sense to look for clues and to protect ourselves by acting on them.

I'm referring to a story about substance abuse. A woman seeking treatment for back pain was given a deadly dose of methodone by Dr. Thomas Grade, a pain specialist at the Desert Pain Institute in Mesa, Arizona -- a man who, himself, was alcoholic and who had relapsed since undergoing rehab many years before. Other complaints had been lodged against this doctor for similar prescribing transgressions, yet, he practiced for many years until he was arrested last year for -- get this -- domestic violence.

I've blogged previously about doctors and substance abuse. Doctors are not immune! In some ways, with an addictive personality, their easy access to drugs makes them even more susceptible, not unlike an obese person who works in a bakery.

I have seen two doctors in the past 10 years who just seemed a little "off" to me. In one case, the doctor wouldn't look me straight in the eye, and when he did, his eyes were bloodshot. I never went back. I was just so uncomfortable.

In the second case, the doctor seemed very unfocused. I had seen her once before and she hadn't seemed so scattered the first time -- but it unnerved me, and I never returned.

Did they have substance abuse problems? I have no idea. I just knew that I didn't trust either one to take care of me safely.

You can't trust a doctor with a substance abuse problem to take care of you, or to practice safe medicine for you. That doctor has only one goal -- his next fix or his next drink. What happens to you, whether or not your health improves, is of no interest or consequence.

You are under NO obligation to continue seeing any doctor, nor are you under any obligation to take a doctor's advice -- ever. If you have any feeling whatsoever that a doctor isn't 100 percent on top of his game, or you find a discrepancy in what you are being told, or if for any reason you just think something isn't right -- then leave. It's truly not important to you whether the problem relates to substance abuse. It's only important that you find someone you CAN trust to care for you.

Across the US, the discussions about addicted doctors are taking place. In most, however, those discussions are being led by peers who are protecting peers -- not by anyone who will enforce patient safety.

As patients we simply need to make these judgments ourselves, and act accordingly.
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