Article entitled: Addicted anesthesiologists?

[Laker]

Pretty interesting read.

http://health.msn.com/general/articlepa ... wsignin1.0

Scary stuff!!!

[Lo]

At the hospital where DF works, they had a seminar on this for all the anesthesia residents and we (spouses) had to watch a video tape about watching for the signs of addiction. It is really scary and it really does happen. The late anesthesia cheif at the hospital where DF works was found dead in his car in the hospital parking garage from a drug overdose, none the less they were drugs he had ordered from the pharmacy "for a patient".

[Flynn]

Yep. It's not uncommon but yes it's VERY scary.

I think I read something recently that specifically anesthesia and psych are the two hightest "addiction specialities" in medicine. I'll try and find the article so you all don't think I'm just blowing smoke....

[Vishenka69]

Yeah, I know about this. DH said that many anesthesiologist put a clause about this in their insurance. So that if they get addicted, they can claim disability.

I also agree that easy access to drugs is not specific to anesthesiologists.

[pstone]

that crap drives me nuts, and the rest of society is drunk as a skunk.

making it seem like it is only gas docs is just stupid.

Plenty of surgeons, pilots, bus drivers drink non f'ing stop...give me a break

[SuzySunshine]

I agree with Peter - I hate how docs are always made out to be the bad guys. There are so many other professions where the customers life is in their hands and they're never "exposed" like this.

[Ravenclaw]

He'll be suspending you in a near-death state—slowing your heart, numbing your nerves, loosening your grip on consciousness—while simultaneously siphoning off drugs for himself and, at times, shooting up right in the middle of the operation.

Is it really possible to shoot up in the middle of an operation? Aren't there tons of other people in the room?

[houseelf]

Yes, this does seem a bit dubious: "Don't mind me, I'm just sampling the wares...carry on as you were".

How does that happen because in my humble experience, ANYTHING remotely gossipworthy is talked about at the hospital.

Kelly

[Vishenka69]

I also highly doubt that this happens in the middle of surgery. Chances are they use stuff that was left over (instead of throwing it out).

And completely agree that doctors are being unfairly singled out. What about everyone who works in public transportation? The guy who crashed the SI ferry killed and injured a lot more people in one day than any random doctor would during the course of his entire career.

[Michele]

What I thought was interesting was how the article suggested that anesthesiologist become addicted b/c of breathing in the narcotics during the surgery because of such close proximity to the patient...that the anesthesiologists with a predilection for addiction are the ones most affected by it...and then it just happens that they have easy access to the drugs. I do think that anesthesiologists do have easier access to narcotics...at least it was that way at the vet school...if I saw an anesthesiologist OUTSIDE of work walking around with fentanyl in his pocket I would assume he was on call or something but if I saw an internist I would be more suspicious.

[Lo]

Michele,

I found that interesting as well. But I would like to see more study on it to see if there really is a correlation...

[Malpka]

It is so strange, because this never happened (that we knew of) at DH's hopsital where he completed residency. Here, however, it has been an epidemic. They lose one or two residents a year out of the anesths program for addictions. Many of these guys have a couple of kids or more, and the family is suddenly left with no income or plan while the DH gets rehab and gets his license/new program/ etc back in order. Very, very sad.

[Ravenclaw]

Many of these guys have a couple of kids or more, and the family is suddenly left with no income or plan while the DH gets rehab and gets his license/new program/ etc back in order. Very, very sad.

When I was younger, I saw that happen to a father of kids I went to school with. It was so sad how the local newspapers just teared him to shreds.

[Amiens]

It is very common among anesthesiologist, but as Peter said give it a break- it happens every where.

I will say it is more common than other specialties given the fact that not all of the drugs are used, etc. etc. Anyway, there was a gal the year before dh's class and she was put in rehab, and the dept heads then determined she wasn't going to be able to hack it in anesthesia- so she was asked to leave. I also remember dh's CA-1 (R2) year there was a mandatory seminar for the residents and their SO- we were given a speech on what to look for in addiction, a personal story from one of the attendings (she found her co-chief in the call room dead from overdose at UCHSC), and the steps the dept takes when one is struggling with an addiction.

Crystal