Update - Licensed!

[meow1985]

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I just got word. No restrictions, no requirement to be in a PHP, nothing. 🙂

In residency, I got named in a lawsuit and took some time off for mental health. Those were two very much unrelated events, though.

Thank you for all the support through this process. Now to finish getting credentialed.

 

[Mass Effect]

Congratulations!

 

[birchswing]

Congratulations.

Assuming it could have gone either way (I don't know enough to say, but it sounded like your colleagues were telling you this was the way it was likely to go), it's always interesting to ponder whether the angst was avoidable and/or worthwhile. Personally, I think situational angst is largely intractable and thus unavoidable until the situation has resolved. As to whether it's worthwhile, I think angst is definitely a coping mechanism, making it worthwhile and healthier than some other coping mechanisms. It's not a coping mechanism without pain. Angst is painful. The Stoics claimed to be able to ponder the worst scenarios in a way to steel themselves away from the inevitability of pain, though they claimed to be able to do it in a way that didn't hinder the enjoyment of everyday life—rather one that they claimed enhanced it. But it took a lifetime of repeated practice. Of course once these periods of suffering remit we often lose the motivation to practice such discipline.

 

[psychapp121]

Bro there are surgeons literally murdering patients and having a license..no one is surprised by this except for you..you made it a huge deal because of your anxiety and I think that should be the biggest takeaway for you from this moving forward

 

[splik]

Congrats! Though I would still recommend that you consider deleting/editing your posting history regarding some of this as I think there was too much information.

Bro there are surgeons literally murdering patients and having a license..no one is surprised by this except for you..you made it a huge deal because of your anxiety and I think that should be the biggest takeaway for you from this moving forward

While I agree the OP had been overly anxious, several states, including where I am (and I consult to the boards re: impaired health professionals), literally put physicians on trial for being mentally ill. In California, for example, the board requirements are so stringent that it is virtually impossible to practice medicine if you disclose a history of mental illness or substance use disorders. Incidentally boards tend to be more forgiving of addictive disorders than of other mental illness. There is a big difference between being licensed and being impaired (there's a much higher bar to losing your license when you have it), and applying for a license and disclosing a history of mental illness. This is why I always advise physicians to check the "NO" box on the licensing form re: mental illness unless you truly believe you are impaired in your ability to practice medicine.

 

[meow1985]

Bro there are surgeons literally murdering patients and having a license..no one is surprised by this except for you..you made it a huge deal because of your anxiety and I think that should be the biggest takeaway for you from this moving forward

I am not surprised, but I am relieved.

Also, are you talking about Dr. Death? If so, why are you using the plural?

 

[Mass Effect]

While I agree the OP had been overly anxious, several states, including where I am (and I consult to the boards re: impaired health professionals), literally put physicians on trial for being mentally ill. In California, for example, the board requirements are so stringent that it is virtually impossible to practice medicine if you disclose a history of mental illness or substance use disorders. Incidentally boards tend to be more forgiving of addictive disorders than of other mental illness. There is a big difference between being licensed and being impaired (there's a much higher bar to losing your license when you have it), and applying for a license and disclosing a history of mental illness. This is why I always advise physicians to check the "NO" box on the licensing form re: mental illness unless you truly believe you are impaired in your ability to practice medicine.

I wish I could like this post over and over again. I think we should focus on eradicating the mental health question in general beyond present status.

 

[meow1985]

Congrats! Though I would still recommend that you consider deleting/editing your posting history regarding some of this as I think there was too much information.


While I agree the OP had been overly anxious, several states, including where I am (and I consult to the boards re: impaired health professionals), literally put physicians on trial for being mentally ill. In California, for example, the board requirements are so stringent that it is virtually impossible to practice medicine if you disclose a history of mental illness or substance use disorders. Incidentally boards tend to be more forgiving of addictive disorders than of other mental illness. There is a big difference between being licensed and being impaired (there's a much higher bar to losing your license when you have it), and applying for a license and disclosing a history of mental illness. This is why I always advise physicians to check the "NO" box on the licensing form re: mental illness unless you truly believe you are impaired in your ability to practice medicine.

Considering this reality, I don't know how to not be anxious on this topic.

Since I did sanitize my prior posts, to recap for posterity I did put no as an answer to the impairing condition question, but a big part of my dilemma was that I took a medical LOA during residency, and it had to be explained. In explaining, I did in fact disclose a history of mental illness.

It's interesting that boards are more forgiving of addictive disorders than mental illness. I would've thought it would be the opposite, since out of control substance use can quickly and severely alter your mental status.

People at the state board where I'm going said that they do not like and are looking to change vs get rid of the question. Now that my license is approved, I can support efforts to do so, but I am not sure how to do that.

 

[Old&InTheWay]

Congratulations, it must feel great to have this behind you! I too am someone who sometimes experiences a perhaps greater than average degree of anxiety around what I would perceive as high stakes situations (e.g. I had to apply to med school twice, and that second cycle was pure torture considering how much time and money I had invested in post-bacc, pre-med work, etc.).

I think it's important for everyone who doesn't experience worry like this to recognize that this difference is due in large part to luck and genetics, rather than grit and determination. We all have anxiety, and we all work hard to rationally manage our anxiety, but the playing field is not level. While it is certainly satisfying to have a "pull yourself up by the bootstraps" narrative of one's own life experience, projecting that narrative onto others is less helpful. It's difficult but important to recognize the privilege that comes along with positive mental health attributes, particularly as people who treat patients who struggle in these areas.