Am J Psychiatry 1991; 148:1366-1370
Copyright © 1991 by American Psychiatric Association
Psychiatric consultation to a state board of medical examiners
JD Bloom, M Resnick, JJ Ulwelling, JH Shore, MH Williams and C Rhyne
Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201.
This article describes the evolution of psychiatric consultation to the
Oregon Board of Medical Examiners. The board is charged with the licensing
and regulation of physicians in the state of Oregon in order to protect the
public and uphold the standards of the medical profession. Psychiatric
consultation has focused on the board's investigations of physicians with
mental illness and/or substance abuse and physicians who inappropriately
prescribe psychoactive drugs or sexually abuse patients. Each of these
physician groups is described, and remedial programs for each group are
discussed. The authors conclude that psychiatric consultation to medical
boards is a feasible and productive activity that can make a positive
contribution to the lives of a large number of physicians and patients.
