Schizophrenia and Practice

[Quixotic]

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Are there a many physicians out there that live with schizophrenia and have no problem practicing, specifically paranoid schiz? Does it progress in all people or do some individuals have the same level or paranoia throughout their life? One of the major drawbacks of being a physician and having the disease is that others have the right to review your psychiatric files if they feel it may interfere with your job. Should this preclude one from seeking treatment?

 

[Anasazi23]

I personally don't know any psychiatrists with paranoid schizophrenia. I'm going out on a limb, but would think it might be better to have schizophrenia, and have documentation from another psychiatrist that you're compliant, and have no major decompensation episodes, than to avoid treatment and hope that it's not found out.

If you were involved in a lawsuit, they'd find out...believe me. Whether or not your personal medical records would become an issue, however, is a muddier matter. I imagine it wouldn't be unless your failed to follow a standard of care as a direct consequence of your illness, and failed to properly refer your patient, etc.

 

[MJD503]

I recently attended a confrence by an Psychiatrist with his PHD who suffers from Paranoid Schizophrenia. Here is the website for his group he runs: www.power2u.org Better yet, here is his profile: http://power2u.org/who.html

If you want info from someone else who has been there, contact him. He is a very personable guy who loves to talk with people who suffer from mental illness!