i recently found out i have an immune disorder that puts me at a risk of neuro problems, ie vasculitis or aneurysms. i was depressed, and i went out and had too much to drink.
i ended up getting pulled over, obviously drunk, didn't comply with the officer, ended up they got a search warrent to take my blood (didn't even know they could do that, unless of course if you were in an accident), and i know i'll be over the limit, even hours later.
i just matched to prelim medicine and anesthesiology. how will this affect me?
it was a class B misdemeanor. i go to court in july, after i start my internship. btw, i still haven't applied for my medical license.
what should i do? i'm freaking out.... like i didn't have enough to worry about. i'm definitely getting a lawyer, but what ramifications will this have on sstarting residency, and afterward?

i recently found out i have an immune disorder that puts me at a risk of neuro problems, ie vasculitis or aneurysms. i was depressed, and i went out and had too much to drink.
i ended up getting pulled over, obviously drunk, didn't comply with the officer, ended up they got a search warrent to take my blood (didn't even know they could do that, unless of course if you were in an accident), and i know i'll be over the limit, even hours later.
i just matched to prelim medicine and anesthesiology. how will this affect me?
it was a class B misdemeanor. i go to court in july, after i start my internship. btw, i still haven't applied for my medical license.
what should i do? i'm freaking out.... like i didn't have enough to worry about. i'm definitely getting a lawyer, but what ramifications will this have on sstarting residency, and afterward?

I believe most licensing, will require you to disclose arrests and/or convictions. This means that you will have to explain it when applying. I would suggest talking to a lawyer who specializes in health to see how to explain it on the applications.

Wook

I suggest letting your prelim year PD know immediately as well....

I suggest ignoring the last two posters and contacting a lawyer immediately. Not to make excuses, but this sounds like a unique circumstance and you have a decent chance of getting the charges worked downward assuming you have a clean prior record. Make sure it's someone with good experience in this area.

substance abuse is particularly concerning for an anesthesiologist... the anesthesiology community is very very aware that they have the highest infractions for substance abuse... get the best lawyer you can, don't tell anybody, and try to make this thing go away, before you see yourself have difficulty getting privileges to perform anesthesiology at local hospitals...

before doing anything else, see a good lawyer.

first offenses are often dealt with leniently and may not result in a permanemnt record, if you have a good lawyer.

I'd agree with the recommendations to get a lawyer. You don't want a record of substance abuse as an anesthesiologist.

i recently found out i have an immune disorder that puts me at a risk of neuro problems, ie vasculitis or aneurysms. i was depressed, and i went out and had too much to drink.
i ended up getting pulled over, obviously drunk, didn't comply with the officer, ended up they got a search warrent to take my blood (didn't even know they could do that, unless of course if you were in an accident), and i know i'll be over the limit, even hours later.
i just matched to prelim medicine and anesthesiology. how will this affect me?
it was a class B misdemeanor. i go to court in july, after i start my internship. btw, i still haven't applied for my medical license.
what should i do? i'm freaking out.... like i didn't have enough to worry about. i'm definitely getting a lawyer, but what ramifications will this have on sstarting residency, and afterward?

Damn dude, get an ace attorney asap. And dont tell anyone, certainly not your future PD, LOL, that musta been posted by someone who wanted your spot!

gluck

I would also recommend that you Google the phrase "impaired health professional <your state>" and get connected with a Professional Services program. I don't believe that one DUI = chemical dependency, but you're also talking about depression and health issues in your post, and the Professional Services programs provide accountability, anonymity, and advocacy for you--before you get reported to a licensing board. Don't dink around with this, make sure that you're getting help.

I would also recommend that you Google the phrase "impaired health professional <your state>" and get connected with a Professional Services program. I don't believe that one DUI = chemical dependency, but you're also talking about depression and health issues in your post, and the Professional Services programs provide accountability, anonymity, and advocacy for you--before you get reported to a licensing board. Don't dink around with this, make sure that you're getting help.


and dont use the excuse you were drinking because you found out this diagnosis... all you have to say is that you made a mistake. 'nuff said.

I agree with radonc. The licencing boards will flat out ask you if you've been arrested, convicted,....etc. I guess you already qualify for the former, convicted or not. In most instances they simply want to know what happened. They are generally not persecutory in nature and realize people make mistakes; that being said, an omission on one of those applications or flat out lying to the board will really screw you....present and future.
I would get a lawyer if he or she is going to "get you off", but save your money if they are simply going to help you write a statement of what happened to you. You are certainly not the first to have this happen to them and won't be the last.

I agree with radonc. The licencing boards will flat out ask you if you've been arrested, convicted,....etc. I guess you already qualify for the former, convicted or not. In most instances they simply want to know what happened. They are generally not persecutory in nature and realize people make mistakes; that being said, an omission on one of those applications or flat out lying to the board will really screw you....present and future.
I would get a lawyer if he or she is going to "get you off", but save your money if they are simply going to help you write a statement of what happened to you. You are certainly not the first to have this happen to them and won't be the last.

agree, don't lie on those apps, thats a flat out excuse to kick you out of the program AND to take away licensing privileges.

and do NOT use illness as an excuse for DUI - bad idea.

got a lawer. not gonna lie about arrest, but will lay low until i go to court. i'm definitely trying to make things right. i certainly won't use the disorder as an excuse. i made a mistake, and hopefully it won't ruin my career.
thanks for the advice, everyone. i really appreciate it.

got a lawer. not gonna lie about arrest, but will lay low until i go to court. i'm definitely trying to make things right. i certainly won't use the disorder as an excuse. i made a mistake, and hopefully it won't ruin my career.
thanks for the advice, everyone. i really appreciate it.


owww. I feel your pain. What a sh*tty situation. If only you were a Kennedy, you could just do some handwaiving and this would be gone. Good luck. And yeah, common sense says don't tell anyone anything until you talk to a lawyer. And then, only tell them if you absolutely have to.

also, why not use your disorder as a mitigating circumstance? it sounds pretty serious and would provide insight into your actions. Not totally excusable, but paints a better, more palatable picture that just a simple case of a raging irresponsible drunk driver.

I'm a geek, so I occasionally peruse the medical boards to see what issues are being discussed. You will not believe what a doctor has to do to REALLY lose their license or get reprimanded. Definately, admit that you were arrested, but that charges were dropped. Dont lie. That will really get you. As for "substance abuse", if that is a problem to you, whether its good or bad, the medical boards, seem to take this issue extremely slow, usually allowing multiple incidents to occur before finally clamping donw on the doc. Check out your states medical board web site to see what the precedent has been set. If you're sincere about straightening up, you will have a bright future. GL

Why is everybody here so afraid of confiding in the PD? If there is anybody who could help you navigate the ropes in regards to licensing issues and a legal oops it's the PD. They also don't like being lied to or not kept up to date on issues pertaining to their residents, prelim or cat, and can definately make things easier or harder for you during residency (and even beyond - who do you think hospitals and group practices call when they are looking to hire you?). I'd say let the PD know you have a legal issue, and that you are handling it. I don't think you need to go into specifics, but you should at least let them know.

. . . If only you were a Kennedy, you could just do some handwaiving and this would be gone. . . .
If you were a Bush you could do some handwaiving and get to be President.

Why is everybody here so afraid of confiding in the PD? If there is anybody who could help you navigate the ropes in regards to licensing issues and a legal oops it's the PD. They also don't like being lied to or not kept up to date on issues pertaining to their residents, prelim or cat, and can definately make things easier or harder for you during residency (and even beyond - who do you think hospitals and group practices call when they are looking to hire you?). I'd say let the PD know you have a legal issue, and that you are handling it. I don't think you need to go into specifics, but you should at least let them know.


Easy, currently it is none of his business and has nothing to do with him UNLESS it will cause a problem with licensure and start dates. Lawyer first and let him advise you whether or not to contact the PD.

I disagree. I think owning up to your mistake (assuming this IS a totally isolated incident) and letting your PD know what is going on, being proactive to take care of it, even talk to the DA and see if you can arrange some sort of community service in exchange for a lesser charge would be in your best interests. Granted, I'm not a PD, but if I WERE, and I found out about this later, it would make me very very upset. Your PD (hopefully) is supposed to be your biggest advocate in training you to be a responsible, capable physician... building a huge amount of trust and and image of integrity in a situation like this could be the best thing you could do.

In today's world, everyone thinks they need to 'lawyer-up' before anything else. Personal distaste for lawyers aside, I think personal responsibility and integrity will go alot longer towards winning your PD over than managing to find some legal loophole to get yourself out of trouble.

I guess it all depends on where you're going, and who your PD is... but if it were me, I think I'd probably own up to my mistake and start finding out how to limit or reverse the damage... before it's irreversible.

I disagree. I think owning up to your mistake (assuming this IS a totally isolated incident) and letting your PD know what is going on, being proactive to take care of it, even talk to the DA and see if you can arrange some sort of community service in exchange for a lesser charge would be in your best interests. Granted, I'm not a PD, but if I WERE, and I found out about this later, it would make me very very upset. Your PD (hopefully) is supposed to be your biggest advocate in training you to be a responsible, capable physician... building a huge amount of trust and and image of integrity in a situation like this could be the best thing you could do.

In today's world, everyone thinks they need to 'lawyer-up' before anything else. Personal distaste for lawyers aside, I think personal responsibility and integrity will go alot longer towards winning your PD over than managing to find some legal loophole to get yourself out of trouble.

I guess it all depends on where you're going, and who your PD is... but if it were me, I think I'd probably own up to my mistake and start finding out how to limit or reverse the damage... before it's irreversible.
Although, at some point you may consider mentioning this to a PD, do not listen to this advice. Lawyer up ASAP. An arrest on suspician of DD is much different than a conviction.

It all boils down to personal philosophy and what you want out of life, I suppose.

It all boils down to personal philosophy and what you want out of life, I suppose.

not really. It boils down to strategy and making the least amount of trouble for yourself and everyone else.

If the legal outcome had ZERO impact on your start date would you want the PD thinking that you might have a problem right off the bat, always watching and wondering? No one wants a problem employee.

DO NOT tell your new PD. Geez I dont know how anyone can give that kind of advice. Get a lawyer first. This isnt really a big deal. Painful and stupid but not a big deal. I had a good friend get one about a month before graduating. He took some vacation time to appear at his court date and paid the fines. He is finishing rads residency this year with no ramifications at all.

Some states may have other various requirements such as Alcohol counseling or community service. These can usually be accomodated in other states but if not then it may be wise to move up your court date if you can just to get it over with.