positive drug test

[BolderNewfy]

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So my situation is that I am really unhappy with my residency program and am thinking of trying to transfer out after intern year but during orientation, on the pre employment drug test somehow I tested positive for marijuana ( although I literally hadn't smoked for 8 weeks). The retests were all negative although they made me go through an evaluation but now that I want to leave this program I am concerned that nobody will consider my application if there is this positive drug test in my past. Will this affect me or will it most likely not matter that much? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[SierraPoppa]

I would imagine each institution will do their own drug tests. I really don't think that will be part of your transfer paperwork or anything like that. Even if it were, those tests are false positive more than most folks think. As long as your retests were negative I think you would be fine even if they did let the new program know about it.

 

[michaelrack]

unless you lied to your program and claimed no mj use at all, Marijuana use 2 months prior to starting residency is going to severly hurt your career.

 

[BolderNewfy]

So I said that I used MJ 2 months before starting residency which was a period where I had already graduated but had not started residency. So 1 person sais Im fine and another sais Ive severely hurt my career. Not sure where to go from here. Am I going to have to stick it out at a program I am really unhappy with and a specialty I dont want to practice now becuase of this one test? Im super depressed at being stuck for three more years in a specialty I dont like at a place I dont feel is a good fit for me. I cant decide if I should risk it by telling the PD i think i want to leave and then not being able to get another spot and being out of residency altogether....

 

[PMPMD]

So I said that I used MJ 2 months before starting residency which was a period where I had already graduated but had not started residency. So 1 person sais Im fine and another sais Ive severely hurt my career. Not sure where to go from here. Am I going to have to stick it out at a program I am really unhappy with and a specialty I dont want to practice now becuase of this one test? Im super depressed at being stuck for three more years in a specialty I dont like at a place I dont feel is a good fit for me. I cant decide if I should risk it by telling the PD i think i want to leave and then not being able to get another spot and being out of residency altogether....

I think it depends on what field you're going into, I feel that drug use may be viewed more harshly in anesthesia, where drug use is a specialty-specific concern.

Be sure you are unhappy with our program, and not just intern year itself.

I don' think the (+) Utox is a "career ender," but it is one negative you may have to deal with. I'm not 100% sure a new program would get those results. It may or may not show up on application questions. There are always drug questions, i don't remember if "did you ever test positive?" was one of them.

I think your overall record is what's most important. Do you have a spotless record and this one slip up, or are there other red flags in there?

 

[Shinken]

I feel that drug use may be viewed more harshly in anesthesia, where drug use is a specialty-specific concern.

I don' think the (+) Utox is a "career ender,"

I don't know if it's because Ohio is a harsh state, but I was under the impression that any physician that engaged in the use of illegal drugs would lose his license (unless they completed a rehab program and adhered to strict requirements for license reinstatement).

I can't imagine there's any field of medicine where using illegal recreational drugs would be tolerated. In Ohio, the use of illegal drugs is indeed a potential career ender.

You have to be very, VERY careful OP. Using illegal drugs as a physician is a VERY VERY BAD IDEA. Talk to the medical board in your state about this (or go to their website) and you'll realize that no matter what some people will tell you on the internet, real life is this: sex with patients, illegal recreational drug use or substance abuse (alcohol, for example) are the most common ways to end your career in medicine.

Find out if your home state has a "free bite of the apple" law where you can voluntarily enter a rehab program and complete it and then you can legally answer "no" to the licensing questions about illegal drug use or substance abuse/dependence.

Tread carefully.

 

[SierraPoppa]

I don't know if it's because Ohio is a harsh state, but I was under the impression that any physician that engaged in the use of illegal drugs would lose his license (unless they completed a rehab program and adhered to strict requirements for license reinstatement).

I can't imagine there's any field of medicine where using illegal recreational drugs would be tolerated. In Ohio, the use of illegal drugs is indeed a potential career ender.

You have to be very, VERY careful OP. Using illegal drugs as a physician is a VERY VERY BAD IDEA. Talk to the medical board in your state about this (or go to their website) and you'll realize that no matter what some people will tell you on the internet, real life is this: sex with patients, illegal recreational drug use or substance abuse (alcohol, for example) are the most common ways to end your career in medicine.

Find out if your home state has a "free bite of the apple" law where you can voluntarily enter a rehab program and complete it and then you can legally answer "no" to the licensing questions about illegal drug use or substance abuse/dependence.

Tread carefully.

I think this is excellent advice, but overlooks the fact that the OP has already tested positive, and the program took him/her anyway. Obviously it didn't end his/her career and the program was ok enough with it to still hire him/her. This tells us something about the specialty, the current program, and presumably the state (though I'm not sure if a pre-employment screening would have to be reported to the licensing board).

 

[Doctor Bagel]

So I'm confused. You tested positive and then you retested negative, and it sounds like the program treated this like a negative test. Did you tell anyone that you smoked marijuana? Is that officially anywhere on your record, or do the records look more like this was a false positive? If it's the latter, you're probably OK (although I agree, smoking marijuana at all is problematic for physicians and pretty dangerous for our licensing). If there's documentation somewhere of you using marijuana, that's a whole different issue.

 

[Substance]

1. Stop posting here.

2. Get a lawyer.

 

[HondoCrouch]

1. If you only tested positive on the screen but the follow-up diagnostic tests were negative then you did not "test positive". Unless you did something incredibly stupid like actually admit to smoking 2 months prior then this has zero effect on your career.

2. If you truly tested positive and were subsequently placed on some sort of monitoring program, then yes you are hosed.

 

[Shinken]

I think this is excellent advice, but overlooks the fact that the OP has already tested positive, and the program took him/her anyway. Obviously it didn't end his/her career and the program was ok enough with it to still hire him/her. This tells us something about the specialty, the current program, and presumably the state (though I'm not sure if a pre-employment screening would have to be reported to the licensing board).

Well, if you read the original post, it states "The retests were all negative although they made me go through an evaluation". Basically, when he applies for a license he has to say "yes" to the question that asks if he's ever had any administrative action or that he's ever had a problem with drug use (to test positive and be forced to go through an evaluation to me indicates a problem).

The OP could say "nah, this is no big deal" and answer "no" to those questions. The Medical Board might disagree and accuse him of lying on his application, in which case he's done.

The fact that the residency took him does not imply that his quest for a medical license will be easy, or that his drug use is of no consequence.

Regardless, the OP has to be very careful from now on, and be very well informed on the laws and regulations of the Medical Board where he intends to practice.

 

[BolderNewfy]

So I tested positive and immediately was pulled in to the Pd's office where they sort of interrogated me and td me I would have to take a retest that day(the original test was approx 5 days earlier), and they said that If that second test was positive i was basically finished with my medical career. They said if I was negative I would still Have to go through a program where I am evaluated and u undergo random blood and urine tests for a year. My retests have all been negative so far and the program which evaluates me has signed off saying they don't feel I have aproblem. I told the pd I had smoked months before starting residency which was the truth. Btw this is in a state that has legal mmj and dispensaries on every block not that it matters. So am I now stuck In this residency as no other program will take me? Ideally I would transfer to psych or family....just not feeling IM , plus I hate the way the pd and faculty look at me now....

 

[Valadi]

So I tested positive and immediately was pulled in to the Pd's office where they sort of interrogated me and td me I would have to take a retest that day(the original test was approx 5 days earlier), and they said that If that second test was positive i was basically finished with my medical career. They said if I was negative I would still Have to go through a program where I am evaluated and u undergo random blood and urine tests for a year. My retests have all been negative so far and the program which evaluates me has signed off saying they don't feel I have aproblem. I told the pd I had smoked months before starting residency which was the truth. Btw this is in a state that has legal mmj and dispensaries on every block not that it matters. So am I now stuck In this residency as no other program will take me? Ideally I would transfer to psych or family....just not feeling IM , plus I hate the way the pd and faculty look at me now....

Did a double take on this. There are states where mj is legal, without a prescription? Which state?

This is tough, because you need a letter of recommendation from your program director. That you're thinking of applying to less-competitive specialties certainly will make this easier, but unless you're thinking of doing FM in South Dakota, a good letter of rec will still be needed, from what I've heard from friends who've transferred.

Usually people keep it on the d/l if they're going to transfer while they explore other options. In this case I think you may need to actually ask the PD if he would be comfortable writing you a positive letter of recommendation.

 

[michaelrack]

SoSo 1 person sais Im fine and another sais Ive severely hurt my career. Not sure where to go from here. Am I going to have to stick it out at a program I am really unhappy with and a specialty I dont want to practice now becuase of this one test? ..

When I said u hurt your career, I was referring to getting medical licenses/hospital staff privileges in the future. As far as switching residencies I don't know too much about that, though it would probably simplify things if your switch is within the same state.

 

[Groove]

So my situation is that I am really unhappy with my residency program and am thinking of trying to transfer out after intern year but during orientation, on the pre employment drug test somehow I tested positive for marijuana ( although I literally hadn't smoked for 8 weeks). The retests were all negative although they made me go through an evaluation but now that I want to leave this program I am concerned that nobody will consider my application if there is this positive drug test in my past. Will this affect me or will it most likely not matter that much? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Dude... stop and back up for a second. You're what... not even 4 months into your internship. How many ecstatic 4 month interns are out there right now who are all giggles and farts of joy when they head to work every day? I'd gander... a relatively low number. Are you wanting to change specialties? If it's just the residency program, I'd try to identify exactly what you're "unhappy" with. After all, in a certain broad sense... residency is not a very "happy" experience in general I would say. It's tough, it pushes your limits, and it's supposed to do just that.

You tested positive on a drug screen. Why even take the risk of jeopardizing your career by not being able to get into another program due to "something" being reported. You have no idea what kind of letter your PD will write. I can't imagine that he/she would be happy either about the idea of losing a resident spot that they need to worry about filling now, but that's just me.

You've got a residency...yea so you might not have made the best pick or be happy, but my advice would be to buck up and push through internship. Intern year sucks for everybody. Switching residencies after only a few months makes no sense to me. You barely have any insight into the program or residency in general.

Good luck, but think about your career. You've GOT a residency spot right now and you could easily have been fired from your contract by a positive tox screen at the beginning which would have royally screwed you. Be grateful and stick it out. My 2 cents.

 

[BolderNewfy]

My plan was to keep my head down and finish intern year here and try and transfer somewhere else after finishing the year. I am having serious apprehensions about picking internal medicine. I don't think I want to practice hospital medicine, and am not really excited about any of the subspecialties. Our program is very inpatient focused and my goal was to move to a rural area and just practice part time in an outpatient setting. Our programs outpatient clinic is horribly put together. Not only that but we do 2 months per year of ICU (6 total) which i have no interest in whatsoever. Just way too much inpatient and ICU focus which is, in the long run, not applicable to my goals.

 

[Buzz Me]

Personally I'd be worried about being able to switch to a new residency program after a positive drug test. Are you so miserable that you can't finish the three-year program? Did you have a prescription for marijuana in the period prior to residency?

 

[HondoCrouch]

I'd thank your lucky stars they didnt fire you on the spot. First step is to realize just how lucky you are, despite your own stupidity, to still have a career path in medicine. Your program has done you a tremendous favor, and I would reckon if they got even the slightest whiff of ungratefulness from you that they may be inclined to just kick you to the curb and not renew your contract.

 

[Groove]

My plan was to keep my head down and finish intern year here and try and transfer somewhere else after finishing the year. I am having serious apprehensions about picking internal medicine. I don't think I want to practice hospital medicine, and am not really excited about any of the subspecialties. Our program is very inpatient focused and my goal was to move to a rural area and just practice part time in an outpatient setting. Our programs outpatient clinic is horribly put together. Not only that but we do 2 months per year of ICU (6 total) which i have no interest in whatsoever. Just way too much inpatient and ICU focus which is, in the long run, not applicable to my goals.

It doesn't matter if you're interested or not... not every rotation is interesting, you just buck up and do it and learn what you can. Your inpatient and ICU experience will make you a stronger physician and more comfortable managing higher acuity patients. It will be valuable experience in the long run. Like others have said, be grateful that you weren't kicked out and just plug along. After this year, there will be only 2 years left. 2 months of ICU every year, c'mon... you can do that for 2 years compared to the rest of your life. It's not going to kill you.

The alternative is that you take a risk of pissing off your PD, possibly getting fired or on probation prior to finishing your year, and/or not getting a second residency. If you don't get the second residency, you're left crawling back to your PD, asking to stay in the program. He might either keep you, but by then you've been black balled for sure, or he's already filled the spot and doesn't want someone that he can't count on finishing. Why even take the risk.

See, the problem you run into is that you have to sit down and have this discussion with your PD about your intentions prior to applying for another residency, because you're going to need his letter.

 

[docu]

1. Finish up your IM year, because leaving just looks bad on your cv and you will find yourself getting little to no interviews because of this. It will just make it look shady that you left and all kinds of things can pop into a PD's head and they just wont want you because of the endless possibilities of why you left.

2. Some (im not sure how many) psych or FP programs allow you to be a PGY2 in their program with a PGY1 IM background. I'm not sure which ones those are but you could email them and find out. If you can get into these types of programs, you won't have to redo your PGY1.

Good luck!

 

[mlw03]

It seems like people are being rather harsh on the original poster here. How many med students smoke a little weed? Of course it was dumb doing it with a drug test in the near future, but I think the less intelligent thing was admitting the truth. I don't know what I'd do in his situation, but I think folks are just being more harsh than necessary by saying he's incredibly lucky to have not been fired. I'd be very surprised if less than 1/3 of all docs hadn't smoked a little weed in college or med school. And for what it's worth, I'm not in that group, but I happen to think it's incredibly hypocritical for similar mind-altering drugs be legal, but marijuana is not. I'm a forensic pathologist, and the opioids and benzodiazepines prescribed by physicians kill people (when taken inappropriately of course). Marijuana doesn't kill people. The draconian laws we have in this country just tick me off sometimes...

 

[Groove]

It seems like people are being rather harsh on the original poster here. How many med students smoke a little weed? Of course it was dumb doing it with a drug test in the near future, but I think the less intelligent thing was admitting the truth. I don't know what I'd do in his situation, but I think folks are just being more harsh than necessary by saying he's incredibly lucky to have not been fired. I'd be very surprised if less than 1/3 of all docs hadn't smoked a little weed in college or med school. And for what it's worth, I'm not in that group, but I happen to think it's incredibly hypocritical for similar mind-altering drugs be legal, but marijuana is not. I'm a forensic pathologist, and the opioids and benzodiazepines prescribed by physicians kill people (when taken inappropriately of course). Marijuana doesn't kill people. The draconian laws we have in this country just tick me off sometimes...

Careful there sport... It doesn't matter what you think, or what you perceive to be dangerous to pt care. What matters is the law. I went buck wild in college and tried a variety of stuff, partied very hard... but not after I got past my sophomore year and especially when I got a professional job. If you want to be a physician, then you can't take the chance of smoking pot and getting a positive drug screen and risking your medical license. You have a lot more on the line than the blockbuster worker who goes home every night and fires up a doob. I don't care what med students are doing these days but they shouldn't be smoking pot regularly. How on earth can you justify a physician testing positive for a mind altering substance that is, here's the catcher... "illegal". You can't. If you go to court, you will lose. With 200+K in debt that most med students find themselves in these days, it's simply NOT worth the risk. Nor is it worth the risk as an attending. Drink some booze, find something that's legal.

Your post encourages use of illegal drugs among med students or any that are reading this thread and as a "fellow", I think you should have better sense than that. It's not "just o.k." because plenty of people are doing it. These MSIV's can test positive and lose their residency because of it. Who cares if a benzo or opioid affects them at work. If they have a Rx, they are off the hook, not so with THC unless you live in California and are a cancer pt, etc..

 

[mlw03]

Fair points. Not saying it's ok. Just saying I think it is hypocritical that weed has been deemed illegal while etoh is similarly mind-altering and legal, to say nothing of more dangerous opioids and benzos. But I agree that as docs we do have to abide the laws of the land. Absolutely no disagreement there.

 

[HondoCrouch]

but I think folks are just being more harsh than necessary by saying he's incredibly lucky to have not been fired. I'd be very surprised if less than 1/3 of all docs hadn't smoked a little weed in college or med school.

How is it "harsh" to let someone know how lucky he is not to be fired? The guy could have very easily been canned outright, especially on the pre-employment screen before he has even technically started the program. I would have fired him for the pure stupidity of smoking when you know a drug test is coming.

Or you believe in this new-age hippy stuff of avoiding the truth so nobody gets their feelings hurt and everyone is a winner?

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

We celebrated with booze after our match, not weed. Gotta be smart there.

 

[mlw03]

It's harsh because this is something a large proportion of the us population has done. Downloading mp3s is illegal too. Would anyone fire a resident for doing that? And no, not a feel good hippie. Just libertarian in my political views on drug laws.

 

[michaelrack]

It's harsh because this is something a large proportion of the us population has done. Downloading mp3s is illegal too. Would anyone fire a resident for doing that? .

Downloading mp3's has been dealt with primarily as a civil issue, with a few highly publicized lawsuits for monetary damages. To my knowledge, it hasn't been treated as a criminal issue.

 

[Buzz Me]

In addition, downloading mp3s will have no potential effect on patient care.

Being under the influence? A big no-no in medicine.

 

[HondoCrouch]

It's harsh because this is something a large proportion of the us population has done. Downloading mp3s is illegal too. Would anyone fire a resident for doing that? And no, not a feel good hippie. Just libertarian in my political views on drug laws.

Regardless of whether you feel it is just or not, he is lucky to still have a residency spot. It is not an opinion or judgement on marijuana use, it's a statement of fact. Residents get fired all the time for positive drug screens, especially pre-employment screens when you havent even started yet, it's easier for them to just can you than deal with everything that comes after a positive test.

 

[dragonfly99]

I agree it would be risky for him to try to transfer at this point. At this point I think he should keep his head down, and if he still hates IM residency after 1-1.5 years, but is doing generally well in IM residency, then consider trying to transfer out to psych or med/psych or fp program. However, if you do fp they'll make you do surgical rotations, where people can have harsh personalities. Psych is a 4 year residency, which will keep you in residency at least 1 year longer than IM (or more, probably, if you transfer into a psych program). Also, as a transfer person you may not have your pick of programs so you may not get into the best program, but may get one with less teaching, worse work hours and/or working conditions. You may go out of the frying pan into the fire.
If you didn't have this marijuana thing in your records, maybe you would be in a better position as far as transferring, but even then it would be hard. Being an intern sucks no matter where you are, or what specialty, unless perhaps you got a super easy transitional year. I pretty much agree w/the above comments.

 

[ASA6]

Downloading mp3's has been dealt with primarily as a civil issue, with a few highly publicized lawsuits for monetary damages. To my knowledge, it hasn't been treated as a criminal issue.

Actually, during our orientation the head of GME asks if anyone downloads music illegally (it was a rhetorical question). But then mentions how some residents recently were connected to the university VPN (the thing that allows you off campus access to the medical records and university stuff), and also downloaded some music. They were caught, and fired. So yes people have been fired for this too.

On a separate note, did you happen to have a prescription for medical marijuana in your state at the time? In states that have medicalized marijuana, does anyone know if a physician can have a prescription for it and still practice? Or is that one of those things where even though it is "legal" the medical board would not allow it?

 

[gutonc]

Actually, during our orientation the head of GME asks if anyone downloads music illegally (it was a rhetorical question). But then mentions how some residents recently were connected to the university VPN (the thing that allows you off campus access to the medical records and university stuff), and also downloaded some music. They were caught, and fired. So yes people have been fired for this too.

On a separate note, did you happen to have a prescription for medical marijuana in your state at the time? In states that have medicalized marijuana, does anyone know if a physician can have a prescription for it and still practice? Or is that one of those things where even though it is "legal" the medical board would not allow it?

I am in one of those states and here, the state board doesn't single out weed from any other intoxicants. But an employer can have a policy that, weed card or no, you can't smoke and stay employed there and can fire you for a positive test.

 

[HerbalPlz]

OP have you never heard of QuickFix or PerfectUrine? If the test they made you take WAS a piss test...well, you should of googled before you went!

 

[michaelrack]

Actually, during our orientation the head of GME asks if anyone downloads music illegally (it was a rhetorical question). But then mentions how some residents recently were connected to the university VPN (the thing that allows you off campus access to the medical records and university stuff), and also downloaded some music. They were caught, and fired. So yes people have been fired for this too.

sounds like they were fired for violating university policy (which was probably enacted to protect the university from civil liability from the music companies)

 

[nitemagi]

OP, you're in a tough situation, but I would own that it's your own making. Transferring to another program requires many months notice, both to your current program and to find another. You would double-screw yourself and your program if you left with no notice. PD's talk to each other. It's not limited to letters. Programs usually know by mid-winter if they have positions opening up, sometimes by spring. You'd have to start researching them early. This is a black mark on your record, and will make it harder (though not impossible) to find a FM or psych program that'll want to take you.

Switching programs shows you hadn't thought out your choice of specialty, and a (+) tox indicates you hadn't thought out the consequences of your actions of drug use. That suggests a pattern of unreliability, flippancy, and poor insight. That'll make them hesitate. You're better off completing your program as it'll show your dedication to stick through tough experiences even when you've recognized your mistakes.

 

[Groove]

OP, you're in a tough situation, but I would own that it's your own making. Transferring to another program requires many months notice, both to your current program and to find another. You would double-screw yourself and your program if you left with no notice. PD's talk to each other. It's not limited to letters. Programs usually know by mid-winter if they have positions opening up, sometimes by spring. You'd have to start researching them early. This is a black mark on your record, and will make it harder (though not impossible) to find a FM or psych program that'll want to take you.

Switching programs shows you hadn't thought out your choice of specialty, and a (+) tox indicates you hadn't thought out the consequences of your actions of drug use. That suggests a pattern of unreliability, flippancy, and poor insight. That'll make them hesitate. You're better off completing your program as it'll show your dedication to stick through tough experiences even when you've recognized your mistakes.

👍

 

[Taurus]

Don't be stupid. Suck it up, own your mistake, and tough it out. You will compound your problems if you even try to transfer out.

Geez, some people have no common sense. I would be more worried about if you will ever finish any residency at all.

 

[nitemagi]

Geez, some people have no common sense.

Common sense isn't tested on the MCAT or USMLE's.

 

[Metfan2987]

I don't know if it's because Ohio is a harsh state, but I was under the impression that any physician that engaged in the use of illegal drugs would lose his license (unless they completed a rehab program and adhered to strict requirements for license reinstatement).

I can't imagine there's any field of medicine where using illegal recreational drugs would be tolerated. In Ohio, the use of illegal drugs is indeed a potential career ender.

You have to be very, VERY careful OP. Using illegal drugs as a physician is a VERY VERY BAD IDEA. Talk to the medical board in your state about this (or go to their website) and you'll realize that no matter what some people will tell you on the internet, real life is this: sex with patients, illegal recreational drug use or substance abuse (alcohol, for example) are the most common ways to end your career in medicine.

Find out if your home state has a "free bite of the apple" law where you can voluntarily enter a rehab program and complete it and then you can legally answer "no" to the licensing questions about illegal drug use or substance abuse/dependence.

Tread carefully.

Did you just put testing positive for marijuana on the same level as having sex with a patient??
Just wanted to make sure I read that correctly.

 

[Shinken]

Did you just put testing positive for marijuana on the same level as having sex with a patient??
Just wanted to make sure I read that correctly.

Absolutely. You absolutely read that correctly.

If you want to end your career in medicine, the top three most common ways to do that are (1) sex with a patient or someone close to a patient (like a child's mom, if you're a pediatrician), (2) illegal drug abuse, such as marijuana or heroin, and (3) substance abuse, typically alcohol abuse.

So yes, testing positive for marijuana will end your career just as easily as having sex with a patient.

Whether on a moral level it's the same or not, that's for you to decide. As far as equally damaging to your career, yes, they'll both get you kicked out.

 

[BolderNewfy]

I already stated that my plan was to complete intern year here to not leave my current program shorthanded. Only in medicine do you encounter people who are willing to put themselves through 3 years(or more) of living hell, at a job that literally makes them sick to their stomach, even though they have no intentions of practicing afterwards, ie even if I were to finish an IM residency, there is no way in hell I am getting sucked into IM as a career. Residency is hard enough as is, but if you are really unhappy, and don't find the curriculum interesting it makes it that much harder to be successful. As for common sense, you guys are right. If I had any common sense at all I would have never accrued 200k$ in debt to end up being some HMO's biatch after a soul sucking 3 years of residency only to make the same salary as a NP but owe a quarter million dollars. At what point are residents actually going to stand up for themselves and refuse to be exploited....Let me guess, the horrendous hours and horrible pay are necessary to train competent physicians....Even though there is no evidence to suggest that this is true, and actually there is evidence to suggest the contrary. But no you are right, just keep your head down because one day we might be slightly better paid worker bees who can then join the dark side ie exploit the next generation of doctors....

 

[HondoCrouch]

Did you just put testing positive for marijuana on the same level as having sex with a patient??
Just wanted to make sure I read that correctly.

Yeah bud you better read it twice if you dont comprehend. The top reasons for having your license pulled or denied are as Shinken stated: Sex with patients, illegal drugs and alcohol abuse. Sorry but the medical boards dont care about your particular stance on marijuana.

Unfortunately many naive med students/residents dont understand that medical boards dont share their blasé views on substance abuse and learn the hard way.