Kansas and Missouri Professional Licensing Attorney Danielle Sanger Discusses Prescription Drugs’ Effects on Medical Licensing

There is an opioid crisis in the United States, and in its aftermath, there has been increased scrutiny of physicians’ patterns of prescribing these powerful drugs. That scrutiny precipitated an increase in licensing investigations regarding prescription patterns and opioid use by physicians themselves.

If you are a physician contacted by an investigator, do not make the mistake of trying to handle your response to the investigation alone. I have seen physicians’ lives and careers devastated because they tried to be helpful with investigators, in the wrongheaded belief that that generosity would buy them the investigator’s good favor. It won’t. Physicians under investigation often erroneously believed that “playing ball” or helping the investigators helps their case, but this positive impulse consistently results in negative consequences. Don’t fool around, get the help you need from an attorney that specializes in licensing issues. If you are a physician in Kansas or Missouri facing an investigation, call attorney Sanger today at 785-979-4353 to schedule a free consultation.

How Prescription Drugs Can Affect Your Medical License

There is no question that being a physician can be incredibly stressful. In addition to staying up to date on current medical procedures and regulations regarding patient care, being a physician can pose personal challenges as well. Time away from home, massive workloads, relationship issues, and medical school debt can make work-life-balance challenging to achieve. Every day, physician prescribe medication to help alleviate their patients’ anxiety and pain. As physicians’ own stresses mount, the temptation to self-prescribe can be powerful.  Unfortunately, some physicians succumb to this pressure and self-prescribe powerful opioids and other. While physicians understand these drugs’ powerful effects better than anyone, self-awareness diminishes as drug use increases.  Drug dependence ensues.

In my practice, I most commonly see physicians who have developed an addiction to Vicodin, OxyContin, and Valium. I also see the frequent misuse of amphetamines, depressants or painkillers, such as Darvocet, Percocet or Demerol. While these brand names vary, all opioids are highly addictive and are associated with controlled substance addictions in physicians.

Allegations that give rise to licensing issues can take several forms. First, I frequently see physicians that are legally attaining the drugs but have become addicted to them. This addiction leads to sloppiness and mistakes in the medical setting. Even if the doctor is not making mistakes, if colleagues and coworkers note that he or she is coming to work under the influence of prescription drugs, they often file a complaint. Second, I also see physicians that have stopped attaining these drugs legally and have transitioned to either self-prescribing them or to attaining them illegally. Obviously, this is a serious issue that may lead to criminal charges in addition to licensing issues.

If any of the above descriptions describe your scenario, you need legal help now to thwart efforts to suspend or revoke your medical license. I have helped physicians in Kansas and Missouri in your situation and can help you too.

Contact an Experienced Kansas and Missouri Licensing Attorney Now

You have worked too hard to attain your medical license.  If you are a physician under investigation or have developed an addiction to opioids, pain pills, or any other drug, do not agree to any suspension of any kind or speak to an investigator without an attorney by your side to defend you and to negotiate the best possible outcome. Your career, reputation, and livelihood are at risk, and the challenge facing you is one you cannot navigate alone. Contacting an experienced licensing attorney to help you through this process and can mean the difference between getting back to helping your patients and losing your career forever.

Kansas and Missouri professional licensing attorney Danielle Sanger is prepared to advocate for your best interests and defend you. Call Attorney Sanger at 785-979-4353 to schedule a free consultation with an attorney prepared to guide you through your licensing issues.

 

 

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