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Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy
ISSN: 2155-6105
August 13-14, 2018
Madrid, Spain
Addiction Psychiatry 2018
Page 16
8
th
International Conference on
Addiction Psychiatry
I
mpaired physicians and associated healthcare professionals,
i.e. HCPs, constitute a major problem and potential danger
for US and international healthcare delivery systems. Patients,
hospitals, and health networks are placed at an increased risk of
incompetent medical provider care as well as an increased risk
of medical malpractice and/or negligence by HCPs addiction.
Estimates of HCP impairment for physicians range from 12-
15%, nurses 15-20%, pharmacists 18-21%, and dentists 12 to
19%. Physicians experience the highest rate of suicide in any
profession. The most common cause of physician impairment
is substance abuse. Substance abuse risk stratification will be
reviewed according to themedical specialty, with anesthesiology,
emergency medicine, and psychiatry, constituting the highest
risk. The predisposing personality characteristics of HCPs
to addiction, including burnout syndrome, as additional risk
factors will be reviewed. Examples and prevalence rates of
specific substances of abuse for HCPs and comorbid psychiatry
disorders predisposing to addiction as well as themost common
reasons for addiction by HCPs at time of initiation of addiction
treatment will be discussed. Reasons for the reluctance of
physicians/HCPs to seek substance abuse treatment, including
fear of stigma in seeking treatment are reviewed. Goals of the
evaluation for HCPs will be reviewed by including the following
components of a prototypical addiction psychiatry evaluation:
obtaining an accurate diagnostic assessment of the underlying
substance abuse disorder, and related comorbid medical and
psychiatricdisorders;provideanassessmentoftheindividualized
treatment needs of the affected HCP. Potential medical/legal
consequences of HCP addiction will be reviewed including
malpractice liability, loss of licensure, ethical considerations, as
well as legal implications relating to return to practice. Finally,
a case example of an addiction psychiatry evaluation of an
impaired physician (independent medical evaluation) performed
by the presenter will be discussed.
Biography
David G. Petkash is a Physician as well as a Pharmacist. Upon graduating
from St. John’s University College of Pharmacy he excelled in Pharmacol-
ogy in medical school. During his Psychiatry Residency at Eastern Virginia
School of Medicine he took interest in neuropsychiatry, chemical depen-
dency and forensic psychiatry. Completing a fellowship in geriatric psy-
chiatry/neuropsychiatry at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, he ob-
tained clinical/academic positions as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Uni-
versity of MarylandMedical Center as well as Penn State University College
of Medicine. His private practice forensic medical-legal evaluations have
included psychopharmacological analysis, substance abuse and addiction
psychiatry examinations concerning physicians and nurses. He is a Mem-
ber of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee for not-for-profit HMO
pharmacy benefit management organizations. His American Board of Psy-
chiatry and Neurology certifications include: Addiction Psychiatry, Forensic
Psychiatry, General Psychiatry, and Geriatric Psychiatry. His membership
includes American Academy of Psychiatry and Law, American Psychiatry
Association, and American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.
petkash987@comcast.netForensic addiction psychiatry as it pertains
to the impaired physician/medical healthcare
professional, a brief synopsis - including a
review of the literature
David G. Petkash
Camp Hill Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic, USA
David G. Petkash, J Addict Res Ther 2018, Volume 9
DOI: 10.4172/2155-6105-C2-039