Doctors, Nurses, And Pharmacists Should Be Drug Tested

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About 2 months ago a doctor here in FL was arrested in a drug raid. Pilots, Postal workers, and Bankers are all drug tested. I think doctors, nurses, and pharmacists should be as well. They have the most access to drugs and peoples lives are in their hands . What do you think?

Ker_Ker

02 Feb 2009 17:05

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I am for it. I don't think it would be that much trouble to take a drug test. I agree with Keepmindok I want someone with a clear head dealing with my life.

Pepper

04 Feb 2009 11:37

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As with Pilots, Doctors and nurses should have a sense of responsibility. Lives are at risk. I want someone dealing with me to be fully compos mentis. Is that to much to ask.?

keepmindok

03 Feb 2009 02:52

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At times when doctors are scarce, perhaps it is.

verum

04 Feb 2009 03:12

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Doctors SHOULD be drug tested! Our lives are in their hands! DUH!

dc77

02 Feb 2009 22:29

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Actually would have preferred to post on both sides of this isle.
However, to answer the debate question:

No.

For the beautifully simple fact that Karma will get the good doctor or nurse who chooses to drink, shot, or pop.
Everything one does comes back to haunt.
It's a law of the Universe.

Let's leave them to it.

ToObserve

03 Feb 2009 03:30

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Everything one does comes back to haunt.
It's a law of the Universe.

I hope you are right!!!!

Ker_Ker

03 Feb 2009 22:19

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Why is it so bad if a doctor decides to use non-government legalized drugs?

Is it because since they save lives they should be subjected to more extensive and more critical watch and control by our government through their most irrational laws? No, I don’t think so.

The correlation between one’s behavior in using narcotic and recreational drugs and one’s ability and type of occupation is weak. There are very few instances where their use can affect their work habits, and believe me I know this is debatable.

verum

02 Feb 2009 20:20

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Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists do not have the access to medications that one would think. Doctors do not generally write or call in prescriptions for themselves. This is especially true with narcotic or other controlled substances. Pharmacists are accountable for the number of pills in the pharmacy. Nurses in a hospital setting have to sign a drug out of the pharmacy to give it to a patient. I am certain there is some way for these people to get their hands on medication, but they are already under enough pressure. Malpractice insurance in some specialties is so high that many docs are giving up their practices. This is especially true of OB/GYN and some other specialties. Nurses are held liable for the mistakes of doctors in many hospital settings. They are scapegoats. These are noble professions. These people help people. To insist on drug testing them is to put them through another hoop in an already complex healthcare field.

my2cents2u

02 Feb 2009 17:51

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Well the Dr. that was arrested down here had access to the drugs. All they have to do is pee in a cup. It takes 2 minutes. How hard could that be?

Ker_Ker

02 Feb 2009 18:09

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I know what they have to do for a drug test.  I also know that my brother in law only has to take 2 minutes to write a diagnosis code on every single form he fills out so that he can get paid what is "reasonable and customary" per the insurance company.  Never did I say that no physicians had the means to get medication.  I simply stated that it is not as easy as one would think it to be.  It is not as if it does not raise eyebrows if they are getting meds called in frequently or if meds in the hospital where they work are disappearing rapidly.  I am saying that healthcare providers take risks, many work without payment in certain circumstances (such as my brother in law, who instead of allowing a hospitalist to see his patients while they are in the hospital, goes himself.  He is generally not paid for this, but does so for his patients' comfort).  The man works from the minute he gets up in the morning and is on call almost all of the time.  Yes, I think another two minutes is too much to ask of him.

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I don't doubt the fact that doctors, nurses, and pharmacists abuse drugs at times.  In certain instances, where there is good cause, I can understand testing them, but mandatory testing because one is a healthcare worker seems to be, as I said earlier, yet another hoop for these people to jump through.

As for the lady protesting too much, I have NO access to drugs, other that to go to the Dr. if I'm ill or injured, just like anyone else.  I am in the healthcare field, but I am not in one of the occupations you listed.  I have worked in physicians offices as a medical assistant, as a receptionist and, when I was younger, doing clerical work.  I now do billing and am in the process of doing transcription from home.  Unless I am unaware of some special transcriptionist pharmacy, I am still going to have to visit my physician when I'm sick.

JSG at the hospital you worked at, which employees were abusing drugs?  I am not challenging you here, but I have spent hours with physicians of all different backgrounds and specialties and have not met one that uses or abuses prescription drugs.  These are not just physicians that I know casually.  My brother in law is in family practice and I consider some of his colleagues to be friends.  I know them well enough to know what their stance on drug abuse is.

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Hi JSG...I hope you don't mind me calling you that.  Seems to be the standard "nickname" for you.  Thanks for responding.  I was curious.

I do see your point.   I see the point of the entire debate.  I simply feel that we hold physicians to such a high standard, and we are right to a point.  The problem is that, I can see the potential for more red tape in the medical field.  I truly do agree that physicians and other health care workers have access to controlled substances.  I would have to be an idiot to not get that point, but these people, as I said, would be putting not only their reputation, but their career on the line by engaging in such behavior.  Based on the explanation of the debate, I voted on this side.  If there were some conclusive evidence stated in the debate explanation that it was a widespread epidemic, I would change my stance.  I also feel that, too often, society does not view doctors as human, but when it comes to something like this, they are ready to see the darker side of humanity in them.  On the other hand, when one wants a miracle, they can sue the doctor for not providing one.  If we all start to view doctors as being human beings with weaknesses and flaws, we will then see less lawsuits and lower malpractice.  People will once again want to send their kids to medical school to practice the art of medicine.  At the present time, we are setting ourselves up for a serious shortage in healthcare.  Well, I am getting off of the topic.  This is a subject that hits close to home.  Not in the sense that I have a drug abusing physician, but in the sense that I see too many physicians in my area who are leaving their practices after years of hard work because managed care not only does not pay what it used to, but also restricts physicians to formulary drugs and malpractice insurance is going through the roof.  I guess this debate hit a nerve for me.

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