Report of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons' Committee on Physicians' Health

From "Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery," the Journal of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons

by S. Larry Schlesinger, M.D.

The Committee on Physicians' Health was established in 1984 by the Board of Directors of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (ASPRS). The Society was the first member of the American Board of Medical Specialties to formally recognize and acknowledge that physicians, including plastic surgeons, are not bulletproof when it comes to the disease of chemical dependency, including alcoholism. Organized medicine has historically ignored the existence of this medical disease among its own physician members. Plastic surgery jumped into the vanguard by assisting its members who have chemical dependency/alcoholism problems through the creation of the Committee on Physicians' Health, a standing committee of the Society.

Fifteen to twenty percent of the American population now have or some time during their lifetime will demonstrate the symptoms of the disease of chemical dependency. It appears that there is a cluster of occupations—physicians, airline pilots, lawyers, judges, and entertainers—who are more prone to chemical dependency than the general population (G. Douglas Talbott, personal communication, 1992). For many years, organized medicine and the rest of the American population felt that chemical dependency was a moral issue. The American Medical Association defined alcoholism as a disease in the mid-1950s. And more recently, drug addition also has been defined as a disease. We now understand that chemical dependency, including alcoholism, is a biogenetic disease, analogous to diabetes or arthritis.

Medicine has for a long time been the lastarmy that shoots its own wounded. We have ignored the existence of this disease in our ranks and have refused to understand this problem while shunning colleagues who have displayed symptoms of chemical dependency. The establishment of the Committee on Physicians' Health was a statement by the membership of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, through its Board of Directors, that we believe not only in the disease model but also in the reality of recovery. Organized plastic surgery has "put its money where its mouth is" by creating this committee to assist plastic surgeons and their families who get caught up in the web of alcoholism/chemical dependency.

The Committee on Physicians' Health, formerly the Impaired Physicians' Advocacy Committee, was founded when one of our most skilled and famous surgeons and educators, Thomas J. Krizek, publicly acknowledged that he was an alcoholic. Dr. Krizek, of Chicago, was instrumental in the establishment of this committee and served as its first chairman. Later, John Manning, of Lancaster, California, served as the second committee chairman and has to his credit the establishment of twelve-step recovery meetings at our annual national medical convention. As the current chairman of the Committee on Physicians' Health, I have increased committee membership with several outstanding members of our medical society. These compassionate and highly motivated plastic surgeons stand ready to assist fellow members of the Society. My goals include increasing the availability of treatment programs to our recovering members by establishing a revolving loan fund, negotiating for reduced fees for treatment programs for our members, and increasing visibility of our committee to our membership.

Plastic surgery is now known in recovery circles as a pioneer for having created a standing committee to assist members and their families in dealing with all aspects of chemical dependency, alcoholism, and recovery. We are working to eschew denial when it comes to the diseases of alcoholism and chemical dependency. We assert the fact that it can and does happen to physicians and that, though it is not curable, it is eminently treatable.

The Committee on Physicians' Health has assisted the American College of Emergency Medicine and the American Academy of Ophthalmology in establishing similar committees. Also, our first chairman, Dr. Thomas Krizek, a regent of the American College of Surgeons, and Dr. Gordon Hyde, of Kentucky, are presently working on the establishment of a similar committee for the American College of Surgeons. The American Academy of Optometry also has asked for assistance in setting up a similar program for their national organization.

It would appear that physicians in the surgical subspecialties, anesthesia, and emergency medicine have a higher propensity for this disease than the average physician (G. Douglas Talbott, Personal communication, 1992). This is an eminently treatable disease with a very, very low rate of recidivism, especially in the physician population. The Society has shown its humanism and its forward thinking by establishing this committee. The Society also has had the courage to admit that the problem exists among its members, a problem no different from that found among neurosurgeons, general surgeons, otolaryngologists, and others, but one that needs to be dealt with. The Physicians' Health Committee members stand ready to speak with fellow plastic surgeons about chemical dependency problems. We are also happy to talk to family members, office staff, nursing staff, and others. Phone calls may be made anonymously or with personal identification. The committee has answered several phone calls from physicians with alcohol and drug-related problems as well as assisting some of our members in entering treatment programs around the country. We are in contact with most state impaired physician committees and can be useful in helping members deal with both medical and legal aspects of this problem. The Society does not view alcoholism or chemical dependency as a moral issue, and as such, admitting one has this problem in and of itself will not endanger anyone's membership in our national plastic surgical organization.

If you have questions with reference to alcoholism or chemical dependency, you may call S. Larry Schlesinger, M.D., at (808) 871-7502.

I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to the Editor for having solicited this article. I have always felt that plastic surgery was one of the most comprehensive, exciting, and dynamic medical specialties. But now I also feel it is one of the most humane, compassionate, and forward thinking specialties. I for one am proud to be a member of such a progressive medical organization.

S. Larry Schlesinger, M.D.
Maui, Hawaii 96732

REFERENCE
1. Talbott, G. D. Personal communication, 1992. Talbott/Marsh Recovery Center, 5448 Yorketown Drive, Atlanta, Ga. 30349.