Could Past Substance Abuse Prevent Licensure?

[veeolist]

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When and how will prior illegal substance abuse and treatment for it come up in such a way that it could prevent one from gaining acceptance into med school and, later, licensure to practice medicine?

In my case specifically, I went to my PCP and flat out told him I was addicted to my drug of choice (not MJ) so that he would write me a referral and insurance would cover my therapy. I did the psychotherapy thing for a few months, and went to NA, and haven't used since and don't plan on ever doing so. My concern is that if it ever comes up "are you or have you ever been addicted?" if I say NO, then will they have access to the records of my therapy and PCP visit, given that they were all coded as substance addiction treatments; or if I say YES, then doesn't that pretty much destroy my chances of admission to med school and/or licensure?

Thank you for your serious responses only.

 

[f_w]

or if I say YES, then doesn't that pretty much destroy my chances of admission to med school and/or licensure?

It doesn't destroy them. But for a very long time, you might have to explain your past. This can come up, every time you apply for a medical license and every time you apply for hospital priviledges. You might have to go for interviews and you might have to see a medical board appointed shrink to evaluate you before they give you a license.

Right now, this is nothing but a dark spot in your professional biography. If you start lying on application forms, you might turn it into a big disaster later on.

 

[WilcoWorld]

This is just a guess, since I know even less about law than I do about Sanskrit.

I would think that HIPPA should protect you from employers prying into your medical records, and if you've never had criminal charges I don't see how they'd legally find out. There is still the issue of being honest on your applications, however.

 

[GoPistons]

I know a student at my med school that wrote about his substance abuse problem in his personal statement... he graduated class of '05 this week... so doesn't seem to have any bearing on anything as far as I can see...

 

[f_w]

I would think that HIPPA should protect you from employers prying into your medical records, and if you've never had criminal charges I don't see how they'd legally find out.

HIPAA won't help you. Whenever you apply for anything, you sign a document allowing them to obtain any record they seem fit about you.


There is still the issue of being honest on your applications, however.

You will get the question: 'Have you ever been in treatment for substance abuse?'
If you answer 'yes', you need to add a little letter on when and what and that you haven't had any problems ever since and that will probably be the end of it.
If you answer 'no', and it is dug up at some point later on, you might be facing felony charges for perjury.....