It is estimated that there may be up to 8000 physicians across the United States who are in confidential treatment programs. They are not required to disclose their addiction to their patients, or that they are undergoing treatment for it.
Most states in the US offer this confidential rehabilitation for the 1 percent of physicians who need treatment. Physicians develop addictions at a similar rate to the rest of the population.
So 10 or more percent of physicians have developed or will develop drug dependency or abuse sooner or later during their lives. Of course with only 1 percent in treatment, the rest of the physicians are possibly practicing while addicted--some even under the influence.
Few cases have been reported of any physicians anywhere in the country giving actual medical care while intoxicated with drugs or alcohol, but that has not stopped California from discontinuing its confidential treatment program.
Those who are against confidential treatment claim that dangerous doctors are unfairly protected by the programs. Intoxication could be responsible for some of the numerous medical mistakes that kill people each year.
Those who are for confidential treatment say that without such programs the doctors are more likely to be pressured into practicing intoxicated because they will try to hide their addiction from people.
They say that without confidentiality they will not enter the treatment program. They will not want their addiction to be discovered, and that is where there is danger. Because if they never get help then they will end up putting people at risk.
Then things would get worse for the doctors because they would never get treatment. And then things would get worse for the patients who would not have a chance to be treated by a doctor in recovery but more likely a doctor actually under the influence.
It is the experts in addictions who favor the confidential treatment program. People like addictions counselors say that without treatment the addictions are more likely to spiral out of control, and the doctors more likely to practice while intoxicated.
Also the American Medical Association advocates confidential treatment. Nevertheless, those who oppose it cite the vulnerability people have who trust doctors with their health and often with their lives.
When you are sealed God will empower you to overcome addictions. It may not happen immediately and it may not happen overnight. It is a lifelong process--a journey and not a destination.
God will show you how to take care of your health, and overcoming addiction is one way you will begin to take care of yourself. And God will completely change you.
You will no longer be an addictive personality, but you will become a completely new person. God will show you step by step and moment by moment just why you do not need what you were once addicted to.
So when you are sealed whenever you are tempted with that old addiction God will work with you to show you how it will not be a pleasure but instead a painful experience. This is how you will overcome addiction when you receive the Seal.
About the Author
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