| Drug rehab programs not working for California | | | | What pushed the MBC to stop the drug and alcohol |
| Doctors? Most doctors in California have been found | | | | rehab treatment was when10 patients confessed how |
| to have drug and alcohol addiction problems in spite of | | | | they were injured by these doctors. A lady among |
| the effort to curb their drug addiction. That was why a | | | | them was affected when a drunk surgeon performed |
| dedicated rehab therapy was established for them in | | | | a plastic surgery on her. The surgery defaced her few |
| 1980. Although this program was meant for them to be | | | | days later because it was not recommended for her |
| rehabilitated while practicing, it was discovered to be | | | | situation. In spite of this event, the surgeon was |
| unproductive and detrimental to patients. This was the | | | | permitted to carry on with his practice. Other patients |
| information received by the Medical Board of California | | | | also testified that some of these doctors had |
| (MBC). Based on these reports received, the program | | | | abandoned them to take in drugs or alcohol during their |
| may be suspended. | | | | practices. |
| Unless Congress prolongs the program, these doctors | | | | In an effort to clean this mess, about $500,000 was |
| are likely to have their licenses annulled; otherwise they | | | | spent to mend the problems sighted in the early |
| will be advised to embark on a special leave in other | | | | reports received. Yet, no amendments could be |
| to undergo a full drug and alcohol rehab treatment. | | | | reached. An auditor, Elaine Howle also reported that |
| This program calls for the use of alcohol and drug | | | | the medical board is unable to make a remarkable |
| examination, group therapy and mental hygiene | | | | lapse to these effects. No wonder the attorney |
| sessions and a special self-directed monitor that will | | | | general, Julianne D'Angelo Fellmeth has described the |
| watch over the activities of each doctor's practice. | | | | program as "fictitious and parody". |
| Unfortunately, the status reports have confirmed that | | | | The aim of the program is to take care of 400 |
| the drug rehab program has been compromised by | | | | doctors yearly. Today, out of 249 registered, 140 were |
| the addicted doctors. | | | | brought in through the medical board while 99 came in |
| The worst of the discoveries was that the doctors | | | | through counsels given to them by friends and |
| used their own employees as standby monitors to | | | | relatives to undergo a drug and alcohol rehab therapy. |
| protect them. They also knew when to take the drugs | | | | Do you know that there are over 30,000 registered |
| or alcohol so that their urine tests would turn out | | | | doctors in California? Imagine what they have gone |
| negative. | | | | through in life to achieve what they are today. |
| A confession of these acts was revealed by one of | | | | California has many drug and alcohol facilities where |
| the registered doctors. He said he was able to | | | | you can undergo a rehabilitation program. Why don't |
| deceive the organization by taking drugs for some | | | | you help these doctors out of their drug and alcohol |
| years without being detected. | | | | problems by referring them to the nearest rehab |
| The program had failed because the doctors were not | | | | center? We all need to save them now if we must |
| given full inmate drug rehab treatment as they | | | | depend on them for our health safety, support the |
| practiced. This method would have been successful if | | | | California Doctors' drug rehab program. |
| applied. | | | | |