We often think of doctors and medical professionals as superheroes, and in some ways, they are. After all, they save thousands of lives every single day. However, medical professionals are not superheroes, they are only human.
What this means is that they can get tired and irritable, they can lose focus and they can make mistakes and errors in judgment. Some studies suggest that up to 1 in 10 doctors will develop a substance addiction at some point in their careers.
Doctors in such a situation need to reach out for help, but they often do not. In fact, they may continue to practice, which places patients in danger. Is it possible that you were seen by a doctor who was impaired by alcohol or drugs? Here are some signs:
They were late to the appointment
There are many reasons why a doctor may be late to an appointment, and most of these are not related to impairment. However, perhaps you scheduled a previous appointment and your doctor didn’t show up at all. This time, they have left you waiting for a long time and other staff had to track them down. One sign that a doctor may be impaired is if they become increasingly absent and struggle to manage their appointment schedule.
Their manner was off
You chose your doctor because you have seen them in the past, and they were great. However, this has changed recently and they seem disinterested in you and they even become irritable when you ask questions. A sudden change in mood toward patients could indicate impairment.
They sent you away with the wrong medication
Doctors have a duty to provide you with medication that can help your condition. This means writing down a prescription for the appropriate medication and the right dosage. If you have been sent away with a prescription for the wrong type or wrong dosage of medication, this could damage your health. It could also be a sign that your doctor was impaired.
Treating patients while impaired is a form of medical malpractice. If you have been in this situation and suffered physical, emotional and financial harm, then you may be entitled to compensation. Seek legal guidance to find out more about your options.