Addicted Doctors--Plan Falling Short? : State Admits Problems but Denies Patients Are Endangered

State medical authorities agreed with criticism that their supervision of alcohol- and drug-troubled doctors has been inadequate, but they stressed that patients have not been endangered as a result.

State Auditor General Thomas Hayes leveled the criticism Thursday in a report on rehabilitation efforts undertaken by the boards governing California physicians, dentists and veterinarians.

Board officials agreed that surveillance of known alcohol and drug abusers has been spotty but not to the extent that patients are endangered.

The audit was based on a review of practitioners’ files from July, 1982, through July, 1984, including those of 35 physicians taking part in the state’s alcohol and drug use rehabilitation program.

The program is intended to protect the public and allow health professionals with drinking and drug problems to remain at work while undergoing treatment. Treatment includes group meetings, on-the-job monitoring, urine tests and reviews by program supervisors.

Auditors said they found three physicians “who should have been suspended from treating patients because these participants had practiced medicine while using alcohol or drugs.”

Kurt Sjoberg, chief deputy auditor general, told United Press International that one of the physicians “attempted to perform a Caesarean section while under the influence of alcohol when his co-professionals noted the problem and escorted him out of surgery.”

The Southern California hospital where the incident occurred in 1982 removed the physician from its staff, but he was allowed to remain in the rehabilitation program, he said.

Kenneth Wagstaff, executive director of the Board of Medical Quality Assurance, said that the physician, whose name was withheld, has been closely watched since program monitors prevented him from performing the surgery and that there have been no further incidents.

“No patient has ever been harmed or endangered by a physician in our diversion program,” Wagstaff said. “The auditor general’s report does point out that there have been internal problems, and we are taking steps to cure them.”

Auditors said program supervisors visited 24 of the 35 physicians in the sample from July, 1982, thorough July, 1984, only 57% of the times required. Supervisors also failed to collect the required number of urine samples, which are analyzed to detect alcohol and drugs, the report said.