Opiate abuse on medical record... am I done from the get go?

[leonardoson]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi,

This is my first thread. I have searched many different terms but couldn't find a specific topic. Currently I'm about to transfer to a University to finish my undergrad. I have a 3.8 GPA and will be starting to volunteer and shadow here soon. Academics are by far NOT my problem.

My problem I just thought about is that when I was in highschool I was involved with drug and alcohol abuse. I was charged with theft which is now expunged from my record. When I quit using drugs and drinking I told my doctor I was abusing opiates, specifically oxycontin and heroin. I forgot I told them and was denied by the military when I was 20 because of this. I have been sober for over 6 years from every drug and alcohol in the book. Am I done from the get go? I will have 8-9 years of sobriety when I start applying to DO schools. Any experience will be appreciated. THANKS!

 

[DrOMG]

They do not have access to your medical files. They do not even ask for them. There is no way for them to get your medical records without your consent - HIPAA violation.

 

[leonardoson]

Appreciate the quick reply. Forgot about hipaa.

 

[sephora89]

I know one has to sign off their medical records when applying for their medical license. With that said, I have no idea how this will be viewed. I'm inclined to believe they're more concerned with one's psychiatric history.

 

[RTC19]

They do not have access to your medical files. They do not even ask for them. There is no way for them to get your medical records without your consent - HIPAA violation.

+1

 

[mimelim]

Even things that are "expunged" will show up on background checks and/or schools have ways of finding out about them. If you are upfront with schools about your history and they aren't blindsided by the knowledge that there was an issue that is now resolved, this will not be an issue.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I know one has to sign off their medical records when applying for their medical license. With that said, I have no idea how this will be viewed. I'm inclined to believe they're more concerned with one's psychiatric history.

I have four different state medical licenses I've never been asked to "sign off" or provide my medical records. Each state will have their own application questions which will ask about prior psychiatric, other medical, and substance abuse but I've never seen one ask for medical records unless you admit to a problem (which you must do if you specifically asked. Lying on the application is a much more serious offense then admitting to a problem from several years ago.).

Substance abuse is taken very seriously but in the case described by the OP it isn't likely to be a problem until the point he applies for disability insurance. In my experience prior medical records are asked for and obtained for up to 10 years.

 

[mimelim]

I have four different state medical licenses I've never been asked to "sign off" or provide my medical records. Each state will have their own application questions which will ask about prior psychiatric, other medical, and substance abuse but I've never seen one ask for medical records unless you admit to a problem (which you must do if you specifically asked. Lying on the application is a much more serious offense then admitting to a problem from several years ago.).

Substance abuse is taken very seriously but in the case described by the OP it isn't likely to be a problem until the point he applies for disability insurance. In my experience prior medical records are asked for and obtained for up to 10 years.

4 years undergrad + 4 years medical school + >2 years in residency would put him outside of that 10 year window right? I just got disability insurance a little over a year ago as a PGY2. We had some financial seminar and they harped on us the importance of getting it early.

 

[sephora89]

I have four different state medical licenses I've never been asked to "sign off" or provide my medical records. Each state will have their own application questions which will ask about prior psychiatric, other medical, and substance abuse but I've never seen one ask for medical records unless you admit to a problem (which you must do if you specifically asked. Lying on the application is a much more serious offense then admitting to a problem from several years ago.).

Substance abuse is taken very seriously but in the case described by the OP it isn't likely to be a problem until the point he applies for disability insurance. In my experience prior medical records are asked for and obtained for up to 10 years.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...icide-attempt-will-it-get-in-the-way.1126847/

Oh, my bad. I assumed it was a nationwide standard protocol. Thank you for the informative information.

I know they also ask for medical records for law students when it comes to the bar exam (at least that's what my friend told me). But again, I suppose it varies from state to state.

 

[Winged Scapula]

4 years undergrad + 4 years medical school + >2 years in residency would put him outside of that 10 year window right? I just got disability insurance a little over a year ago as a PGY2. We had some financial seminar and they harped on us the importance of getting it early.

Yes it would of course the 10 years was just what my particular policy required.

I was actually surprised when they were asking me for medical records from a doctor whom I didn't even remember seeing but saw once as a medical student when I was home on Christmas break and had the flu. I think they get the information from pharmacy records which is how they knew I saw him.

 

[Winged Scapula]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...icide-attempt-will-it-get-in-the-way.1126847/

Oh, my bad. I assumed it was a nationwide standard protocol. Thank you for the informative information.

I know they also ask for medical records for law students when it comes to the bar exam (at least that's what my friend told me). But again, I suppose it varies from state to state.

I'll admit I only skimmed that thread but it appears that only the premed student in that thread is commenting that he needs to sign off on his medical records.

There are at least two medical school faculty members who state that those records are not requested as part of the application process.

YMMV obviously but I don't think this is a common problem.

 

[leonardoson]

Thanks for the info everyone. When I applied for my state EMT license they had questions for past opiate abuse and I had to send a letter explaining with my application. Same with the expunged record. They granted me my license but I know a license to practice as a DO is most likely much more scrutinized than an EMT who is an extension of a Doctor's protocols. I'll definitely be upfront and honest just wanted to make sure I'm not screwed from the get go.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Thanks for the info everyone. When I applied for my state EMT license they had questions for past opiate abuse and I had to send a letter explaining with my application. Same with the expunged record. They granted me my license but I know a license to practice as a DO is most likely much more scrutinized than an EMT who is an extension of a Doctor's protocols. I'll definitely be upfront and honest just wanted to make sure I'm not screwed from the get go.

Well there's a difference between being asked the question and requiring additional information and being required to release/"sign off" on your medical records.

SOME states may ask about any history of drug abuse.

SOME states may only ask "in the past X number of years".

Every state is different but in general you do not automatically get asked about things that happened 10+ years ago (unless it involves a felony conviction) nor do you routinely submit medical records.

IF asked, answer honestly. A long ago history is not criteria to deny you a medical license although many would advise you to avoid fields like Anesthesia where you may be tempted to relapse.

 

[Snakes]

I know they also ask for medical records for law students when it comes to the bar exam (at least that's what my friend told me). But again, I suppose it varies from state to state.

Took the Bar in my state, never was asked for any medical records. WAS asked to account for every single traffic ticket I ever received, if I had ever bounced a check (and when. And why. And please explain why again.), and had a full credit check done.

 

[leonardoson]

Took the Bar in my state, never was asked for any medical records. WAS asked to account for every single traffic ticket I ever received, if I had ever bounced a check (and when. And why. And please explain why again.), and had a full credit check done.

Do minor traffic violations hinder your chance for licensing?

 

[Eppur Si Muove]

Even things that are "expunged" will show up on background checks and/or schools have ways of finding out about them. If you are upfront with schools about your history and they aren't blindsided by the knowledge that there was an issue that is now resolved, this will not be an issue.

Doesn't this depend on whether the infraction was after age18? I thought you didn't have to list anything before the age of 18 after juvenile records are sealed?

 

[Snakes]

Do minor traffic violations hinder your chance for licensing?

For a law license? Generally not, but the board of bar examiners in my state literally asked for everything under the sun when I was undergoing the background check. My state (as well as most other states) requires that its bar applicants possess "good moral character", which is a vague and slippery enough notion to justify searching and asking about nearly everything under the sun in my own personal experience. Like most other things, disclosing everything from the get-go seemed to be one of the arbitrary "honesty" meters that the Bar employed to justify a person's entry into legal licensing. Truthfully, I was only 22 when I applied and hadn't had the necessary "life experience" yet to rack up some of the "infractions" my colleagues who had lived 10-20 more years than I had done. Like seriously, if I applied now?? I doubt I could tell you how many minor traffic infractions could be ascribed to my name. Not only disclosing them but details about them--like where you received it, what the specific infraction was, etc. I had friends in law school who innocently left things off and they were always subsequently found by the bar during their investigation, and then it turned into a whole additional investigatory process. A complete and total PITA, and I do see some of the reason for it, yes, but a lot of it was just ridiculous. My personal investigation took almost a year to complete and I was almost clean as a whistle besides a traffic infraction or two. It was why those with more complicated backgrounds are recommended to start the background investigation process as early after starting law school as possible. I mean, I knew people in their 30s and 40s at that time who had lived in 10 or 20 different places over the course of their lives and had to begin an extremely arduous process just trying to figure out all of their prior addresses so they could be accurately reported. Granted, this was 15+ years ago, so it's possible with the complexity of databases now that the search isn't as bad. But they seriously wanted to know if you had ever bounced a check and if so, when, where, to whom, why, what bank, why, and also please explain why again.

Any pattern or accumulation of infractions I suppose could show evidence that points away from "good moral character", but again I think this is a very subjective standard.

 

[mimelim]

Doesn't this depend on whether the infraction was after age18? I thought you didn't have to list anything before the age of 18 after juvenile records are sealed?

If someone or an application asks, "Have you ever been convicted of a crime?" The answer is yes, and not answering as so is putting yourself at significant risk.

Not all juvenile records are sealed. And if something comes up on a background check that you didn't disclose, you are not ending up at any of those schools.

 

[Snakes]

Doesn't this depend on whether the infraction was after age18? I thought you didn't have to list anything before the age of 18 after juvenile records are sealed?

In my state your juvenile record must be disclosed (and will not be hidden) if you apply to the Bar or to a number of other positions: specifically law enforcement, teacher, childcare worker of any type, workers with the elderly/disabled, among others. Not sure if there is any crossover with MD licensing given the contact MD's have with those subpopulations.

 

[Eppur Si Muove]

If someone or an application asks, "Have you ever been convicted of a crime?" The answer is yes, and not answering as so is putting yourself at significant risk.

Not all juvenile records are sealed. And if something comes up on a background check that you didn't disclose, you are not ending up at any of those schools.

Thanks for clarifying, I wasn't sure if juvenile records were excluded.

In my state your juvenile record must be disclosed (and will not be hidden) if you apply to the Bar or to a number of other positions: specifically law enforcement, teacher, childcare worker of any type, workers with the elderly/disabled, among others. Not sure if there is any crossover with MD licensing given the contact MD's have with those subpopulations.

For licensing I'm sure it comes up but for the med school certiphi generic background check I didn't think it would come up.

 

[hydroxyurea]

What does signing over your medical records actually entail? Couldn't you just go to a second PCP that doesn't share medical records with the previous, not mention your history of [drug abuse / psych issues], then sign off those? Or do they search all your records by your SSN?