Defending Your Illinois Medical License Against Allegations of Drug Addiction
Last year, Hulu produced the limited series, “Dopesick.” The show revealed how the opioid epidemic that has gripped the U.S. started and how it has affected people. One of the characters in the show, Dr. Samuel Finnix, is a doctor in a small town who is persuaded by an OxyContin salesperson to prescribe the drug to his patients. Not only do many of his patients become addicted to the drug, but the doctor also develops an addiction. Sadly – although the character is a fictional one – he is based on many true-life stories that have found themselves in the same place the character does.
Addiction in Medical Professionals
According to national statistics, more than 100,000 medical professionals – including physicians, nurses, therapists, technicians, and other health professionals – are struggling with abuse or addiction to Oxycodone, Fentanyl, or other narcotics. One in 10 doctors will abuse or become addicted to drugs or alcohol during their career, while 20 percent of nurses struggle with some form of addiction.
Although anyone can become addicted to narcotics, the unique issue with medical professionals is they have easier access to these drugs.
Dangers in Addiction
A medical professional addicted to drugs is dangerous. Not only are they jeopardizing their own lives, but they also put the lives of patients in danger. A doctor or other professional who is addicted to drugs cannot avoid the impact these drugs will have on their ability to do their job and provide patients the standard of care required. They are also at a much higher risk of committing a preventable medical error than a non-addicted healthcare professional.
It is inevitable that the addiction will begin to reveal itself to colleagues and patients and could result in complaints being filed with the whatever board under the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) that issued the professional’s license. In these situations, because of the dangers, the board typically takes immediate action against to prevent potential or further harm to patients.
Contact an Illinois Professional License Defense Attorney
If you are suffering from an addiction to narcotics and you fear that your professional license is at risk, call The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, Inc. at 630-310-1267 right away. There are steps we can take to help you save your license. If no complaints against you have been filed yet, we can help you through the process of self-reporting, which, along with other steps, may prevent the loss of your license. If there have been complaints made against you, our skilled Illinois professional license defense lawyers will work aggressively to defend you. But it is important you do not delay in contacting our office to schedule a free consultation.
Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2021/11/08/1051475843/dopesick-hulu-true-story-opioid-addiction
https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/medical-professionals/