Talking Points and Model Letter for responding to the Medical Board's termination of the Diversion Program
From: Tim Cermak, Communications Committee
Date: 7-27-07
I encourage every member of CSAM to write your local newspaper to present CSAM's perspective on the Medical Board of California's recent decision to terminate the Diversion Program. The issue is complex; but without our voices being heard, it will be oversimplified to the public's detriment. Below are some suggested talking points and a model letter, which can be personalized with little effort. Please, make your voices heard.
TALKING POINTS:
1. For 27 years the Physician Diversion Program has contributed to public safety by closely monitoring physicians in recovery from addiction, fully half of whom have entered Diversion voluntarily, before coming to the attention of enforcement authorities.
2. Budgetary constrictions have badly strained the administration of this program, contributing to deficiencies identified in a recent audit.
3. By voting to terminate the program altogether, the Medical Board has chosen the most regressive, ineffective and irresponsible course available, resulting in the following:
a. California will be the only state without a Diversion Program monitoring physicians with addiction
b. When the only response to an addicted physician is enforcement, problems will become more hidden and it will take longer to restrict impaired physicians from practicing.
c. By relying on enforcement alone, without diversion to facilitate recovery and monitoring, the Medical Board looks like it is taking a "tough on crime" stance while actually taking a more irresponsible stance.
4. Addiction is a medical condition, not a crime. Enforcement alone is an inadequate response to a public health issue (as reflected in the passage of Proposition 36). The Medical Board's total reliance on enforcement is discriminatory, regressive and ultimately less effective than a more humane and comprehensive response.
MODEL LETTER:
Dear Editor:
As a physician practicing addiction medicine, I am deeply distressed by the California Medical Board's recent decision to terminate the Physician Diversion Program. For 27 years Diversion has closely monitored doctors with the disease of addiction, restricting their license to practice until they have demonstrated commitment to undergoing effective treatment. Then, for a minimum of five years, Diversion requires participation in up to seven meetings a week, frequent random urine testing, individual therapy, direct monitoring at their worksite, quarterly reports, etc. It has been a good program.
After years of budgetary constrictions, the administration of Diversion has been shown to have deficiencies by a recent audit. Everyone can see that Diversion could, and should, be improved. But the Medical Board has decided that "not good enough" means they will wash their hands of the problems. The perfect has become the enemy of the good.
The Board's decision is regressive and irresponsible. It is regressive because California will become the only state that treats ill physicians solely from an enforcement perspective. It is irresponsible because enforcement alone will be less effective protection for the public safety. Without a Diversion Program to participate in (fully half participate voluntarily, before coming to the attention of enforcement), impaired physicians will go deeper into hiding. Impairment will have to become more blatant before enforcement intervenes, and it will actually take longer before a physician's right to practice will be restricted.
Finally, California has lost not only its most effective approach to physician impairment, but also it most humane approach. Addiction is a medical condition, not a crime. By providing doctors a means to deal with their human frailties without harsh punishment, Diversion has returned hundreds of fine doctors to productively caring for their patients. This program should be improved and run with a deep commitment to quality, not destroyed.
Sincerely,
XXXXX, Member, California Society of Addiction Medicine
NOTE: We encourage every single CSAM member to write the editor at your local paper. Then send us a copy of what gets printed. Take this opportunity to educate your local community about addiction. We would love to report in an upcoming newsletter that over 50 letters have gotten printed! - Tim Cermak, Communications Committee
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