Doing a Drug Test to the Doctors

Thesis: Doing a drug test to the doctors is crucial as it will increase the protection and safety of the patients while reducing risks of medical malpractice

Introduction

Attention Getter: According to an article written on the Drug Screening of Healthcare Professionals, it is clear that drug screening should be a part of requirements to practice any profession in the USA (Donaldson, 1994). Random drug test to the doctors in the era where the drug is highly trafficked and abused will be essential as the hospital cannot risk an impaired physician or a nurse staff.

Reason to Listen: The physicians are held to high standards because they make crucial life or death decisions. This is the reason they should listen since their behavior in drug addiction has increased to a disturbing level (Wilkie, Fakes, O'Dowd, Whibley, Lenox-Smith & Clifford, 1986). The rate of substance abuse for the doctors has increased to about 10 % and even the Health, and Human Services Department has called for a random drug test.

Thesis Statement: Doing a drug test to the doctors is crucial as it will increase the protection and safety of the patients while reducing risks of medical malpractice

Credibility Statement:

Systematic studies have connected errors in medical practices due to drug abuse

One doctor in the Contra Costa Times claimed that he had cared for patients holding their lives in his hand for three and a half years under the influence of drugs.

Preview of the Main Points:

I will discuss the reason doctors have embarked on drugs while they are supposed to be helping the addicts

I will look at the reason they should take the test

Finally, the importance of the test will be regarded to reduce the risks and avoid disasters in health.

Doing a drug test to the doctors is crucial as it will increase the protection and safety of the patients while reducing risks of medical malpractice.

Doctors are exposed to drugs since they are open to their prescription. Some doctors do an over prescription to patients and therefore the temptation to using the drugs. The reason can also be due to:

According to Lisa Merio, who is a Ph.D. researcher for addiction, doctors are more tempted to misuse prescription and illegal drugs (Strang, Wilks, Wells & Marshall, 1998).

According to the Addiction Medicine Journal of October 2013, most doctors turn to drug abuse to release stress due to their job that involve making life or death decision.

Some result to addiction after prescribing themselves strong medications like opiates, after their moods were elevated, they could not stop.

To increase performance as they work long hours

Pressure in the educations demand

Doing patient care which is the most difficult part of the medical practice as the patient can be challenging and violent thus causing anxiety and depression to the doctors

Lack of emotional support

Availability of the drugs that increase the rate of temptation of misuse

Failure to report the colleagues who practice medicine under the influence of drugs which is known as the conspiracy of silence due to fear of affecting the friend or co-worker financially

The doctors should do a drug test because:

It will avoid the risk of an irresponsible accident that might put the lives of many patients at risk

The American Medical Journal Association released on April 29, supported the test to provide the safety of the patients, hospitals, and the society.

To establish a physiological assistance to the impaired doctors.

To manage the issue of over prescription to the patients by physicians and illegal trafficking of opiates to the black market.

To enable every employee to be sober just as it is a requirement to the pilots and drivers, the doctors too are holding life in their hands.

The overall importance of carrying out a drug test is to make sure that the risk of medical malpractice is reduced, and mitigation measures are put in place to assist bring up a healthy society that is safe (Doctors And The Drug Industry, 1983).

Transition: Now that the discussion about the importance and the reason for doing a drug test to the doctors, I will discuss the consequences of leaving a free doctor who is an addict to treat the patient and the actions that should be taken to them (Durnford, 1988).

Some controversies arise claiming that the doctors do not need to do a drug test as it is a disgrace and dishonor to them (Aalberts, 2003). The consequences of living an addicted doctor to practice medicine are:

The doctor can make a wrong decision regarding the treatment of a patient

He might kill the very person he is ought to take care off

The goal of the health center might not be reached since the protection of the patient might be jeopardized.

The public can lose faith in the health sector.

Steps to be taken should a doctor test positive for a drug test should include:

The license should be invoked, and the doctor should be suspended from duties.

Since the goal is to protect the patients, the doctor under the influence of drugs should be rehabilitated and given psychological help which will allow him or her to embark on work after the session is over and they are okay.

Conclusion:

Review of main points:

The reason for the doctors to indulge in drug abuse

Why they should get tested

Importance of the test to the life of the patient

Steps to be taken after the test and the consequences that come along with the doctors being an addict to the drug.

Restate the thesis: doing a drug test to the doctors is crucial as it will increase the protection and safety of the patients while reducing risks of medical malpractice.

Closure: in conclusion, it is important for the doctors to do the drug test no matter the intrusion of privacy. The test is just beginning to help maintain the health institution goal. A test should not terminate the doctor's license completely but use it to aid troubled health care workers and after treatment, they would safely get back to work. Strong checks should be done, and drug test is a beginning of a good start towards accepting problems and finding a solution.

References

Aalberts, R. J.. (2003). DRUG TESTING TENANTS: DOES IT VIOLATE RIGHTS OF PRIVACY?. Real Property, Probate and Trust Journal, 38(3), 479505. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20785739

Donaldson, L. J.. (1994). Sick Doctors: A Responsibility To Act. BMJ: British Medical Journal, 309(6954), 557558. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/29724617

Doctors And The Drug Industry. (1983). Doctors And The Drug Industry. British Medical Journal (clinical Research Edition), 286(6365), 579580. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/29509815

Durnford, S.. (1988). Junior Hospital Doctors: Tired And Tested: Should The Rules For Pilots Apply To Doctors?. BMJ: British Medical Journal, 297(6654), 931932. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/29701137

Strang, J., Wilks, M., Wells, B., & Marshall, J.. (1998). Missed Problems and Missed Opportunities for Addicted Doctors: We Need a Special Service for Doctors Addicted to Drugs or Alcohol. BMJ: British Medical Journal, 316(7129), 405406. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/25176983

Wilkie, C. E., Fakes, R. W., O'Dowd, T. C., Whibley, R., Lenox-Smith, I., & Clifford, J. M.. (1986). Doctors And The Drug Industry. British Medical Journal (clinical Research Edition), 293(6555), 11701171. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/29525017