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Teresa Shaffer wrote a new post 9 years, 6 months ago
Recently I read an article titled, “Drug-Test Physicians? Docs Say ‘No Way”. I was lost for words. I could do nothing but sit and shake my head. Then, I wanted to scream so loud that all the physicians who were […]
I’m singing Teresa can you hear me?
Great Blog! You nailed it! Fair is fair – no matter who or what group you talk about. I can not believe their excuses for not being drug tested. Nurses are randomly tested all the time. Tested on new employment, tested randomly, tested if there is cause to suspect a problem.
I get the reports for MQAC (Medical Quality Assurance Commission of WA State) Each time I get a report there is at least one if not more physicians being sanctioned due to diversion of controlled substances, opioid Abuse, or alcohol abuse that has impaired their ability to practice medicine safely. By the way that report comes monthly. The numbers are staggering to me. So glad that they got caught and are now being helped and monitored carefully through a state sponsored program for rehab of professionals with substance abuse issues. They remain in practice as long as they comply with the stipulations in their plan from the commission. It is so easy for them to access controlled medications.
I also see Nurses who divert and abuse drugs meant for their patients. this is a sad commentary on the compassion and caring that is inherent in nursing. It hurts me heart to see or that this occurring among my colleagues in Nursing.
Personally as a nurse I would submit to a random drug screen is requested by my employer. I have nothing to hide and of course right now it would be positive as I take an opioid medication daily for my pain. So we would have to have a discussion of why and how. Many hospitals and clinics have a policy of random drug testing. (in 48 years of nursing truthfully I have never been randomly tested even though it is a policy to do so. I guess my number never gets picked – no one wonder I never win the lottery) I have been asked to submit to drug screening for new employment (at least once) and I always complied with this request.
As a pain patient, I have already told my prescribing primary Physician that I will always be honest and transparent with him about the medications he prescribes to me – I will bring in my prescription bottles if he wants to do a pill count BUT I will not submit to random drug testing UNLESS he can show me that every other person coming to that clinic is randomly drug tested on a regular basis I.E. show me the proof.
Teresa your Blog just points out once more that we as People in Pain are held to higher standard. Thank you for taking the time to pull this article apart and call it what it is – unfair discrimination and labeling.