Anesthesiologist Found with Needle in Her Arm
San Francisco Chronicle reporter Megan Cassidy just broke a major story about a pediatric anesthesiologist. Other reporters missed this but Megan Cassidy reported that a UCSF anesthesiologist was arrested on March 5, 2025, after being found unconscious with an IV needle and syringe containing propofol, a powerful sedative, at UCSF.
Her attorney stated she was suspended for 10 days in January, transferred campuses, and is now in residential treatment for substance abuse after taking a voluntary leave. Anesthesiologists are noted to be at higher risk for substance abuse due to easy access to potent drugs. UCSF declined to comment, citing personnel confidentiality
Daniel Horowitz was consulted on the story and the link to the entire story is right here.
Video - Resources of MD's Needing Help with Substance Problems
Daniel is quoted as saying " allowing that doctor to continue accessing drugs while treating children, could put patients in danger and allow the doctor to continue self-destructive behavior. “It’s truly the height of irresponsibility,” he said"
This story is just beginning.
Megan Cassidy is a crime reporter with The Chronicle, also covering cops, criminal justice issues and mayhem. Previously, Cassidy worked for the Arizona Republic covering Phoenix police, Sheriff Joe Arpaio and desert-area crime and mayhem. She is a two-time graduate of the University of Missouri, and has additionally worked at the Casper Star-Tribune, National Geographic and an online publication in Buenos Aires. Cassidy can be reached on twitter at @meganrcassidy,
Addressing Substance Abuse Among Physicians: California's Path Forward
We believe that UCSF failed this doctor and allowed her to sink further into difficulty when they could have assisted her. It is well known in the medical profession that anesthesiologists have access to intravenous drugs and that their addiction issues are more focused on that type of abuse as compared to alcohol, pills or other substances administered orally.
According to Ethan Bryson, MD, from the Icahn School of Medicine, the incidence of SUDs among anesthesia residents is higher than among other medical residents, with over 40% of anesthesiologists in Physician Health Programs (PHPs) seeking treatment for intravenous opioid use, such as fentanyl and sufentanil, compared to just 10% for alcohol abuse (Kaliszewski, PhD). These drugs are often diverted from the workplace, highlighting the need for robust intervention strategies.
Put differently, just because a person is a doctor does not mean that you can ignore their addiction problem and hope it goes away. We understand that UCSF required treatment but anyone who works with addicts has to understand that being nice and understanding is a path to failure. As President Reagan famously said "Trust but Verify".
The California Medical Board is Frozen
Substance use disorders (SUDs) among physicians, particularly anesthesiologists, pose significant challenges to patient safety and professional accountability. In California, the Medical Board terminated its "Diversion Program" in 2008 due to inadequate drug testing and monitoring. Since then, the state has lacked a specific rehabilitation program for drug-addicted doctors, relying instead on disciplinary oversight and private treatment options. This blog explores the current landscape, proposed reforms, and available resources for physicians struggling with SUDs.
Current Practices in California
Disciplinary Oversight
The Medical Board of California enforces strict regulations under Business and Professions Code (BPC) sections 2239 and 2280, classifying substance use that impairs a physician’s ability to practice safely as unprofessional conduct. Disciplinary actions include:
License suspension or revocation
Probation, with only 141 physicians currently on probation for substance abuse, suggesting potential underreporting
Cases of physicians practicing while impaired are investigated, and disciplinary outcomes are publicly disclosed, which may deter doctors from seeking help due to fear of professional repercussions.
Encouraging Treatment
The Board encourages voluntary treatment through private programs or employer-arranged initiatives (e.g., hospital-based programs). Physicians on probation may be ordered to undergo treatment, but the absence of a confidential, Board-administered recovery program remains a barrier. Addiction specialists argue that this punitive approach discourages early intervention, increasing risks to patients.
Proposed "Safe Harbor" Program
In 2025, the Medical Board plans to propose legislation for a "Safe Harbor" program, designed to provide a confidential pathway for physicians to seek treatment without immediate risk to their licenses. Key features include:
Independent Management: Nonprofit organizations would oversee evaluation, treatment, and five-year monitoring, similar to successful programs in other states.
Confidentiality: Treating addiction as a chronic illness to encourage early intervention.
Higher Recovery Rates: Other states’ confidential PHPs report 80% five-year recovery rates, compared to 40% in the general population.
However, patient advocates, including groups like Consumer Watchdog, oppose the program, citing risks of reduced transparency and accountability. They reference the failure of the 2008 Diversion Program, where doctors evaded drug tests, and criticize bills like AB 408 for potentially weakening mandatory testing and reporting requirements.
Available Resources for Physicians
PACE Program (UC San Diego)
The Physician Assessment and Clinical Education (PACE) Program at UC San Diego is a nationally recognized initiative supporting physicians with SUDs. While not a traditional rehabilitation program, it offers:
Comprehensive Assessments: Evaluating impairments, including substance abuse, that affect clinical performance.
Physician Enhancement Program (PEP): In-practice mentoring to monitor post-treatment compliance and safe practice.
Continuing Medical Education (CME): Courses meeting DEA requirements for controlled substance prescribing.
Remediation Plans: Individualized referrals to treatment and ongoing monitoring.
PACE collaborates with the Medical Board, hospitals, and treatment providers to ensure a continuum of care. Learn more at UC San Diego PACE Program.
Mayo Clinic Addiction Treatment
The Mayo Clinic provides evidence-based addiction treatment accessible to physicians privately or through state PHPs. Services include:
General Addiction Care: Medication-assisted treatment (MAT), counseling, and relapse prevention.
PHP Collaboration: Referrals through state programs like Minnesota’s Health Professionals Services Program.
Workplace Support: Confidential employee assistance programs (EAPs) for Mayo Clinic physicians.
Physicians can access these services independently or via PHP referrals. Visit Mayo Clinic Professional Development for details.
Balancing Physician Recovery and Patient Safety
California’s current approach, while prioritizing accountability, may deter physicians from seeking help due to fear of public disclosure or license loss. The proposed Safe Harbor program aims to address this by offering confidentiality, but it must navigate concerns about transparency. Programs like PACE and Mayo Clinic provide critical support, bridging the gap between treatment and professional reinstatement. Patient advocates fear that rehabilitation is often a fantasy and that a strict - no practice policy is the only way to protect patients. Struggles to find a middle ground have proven difficult as the disparate positions of advocates on both sides makes it difficult to identify a true middle. In fact, either approach, strict discipline and censure vs. treatment and reinstatement comes with a price. There is no "happy median" only a series of unfortunate choices.
Daniel Horowitz - Medical Lawyer
Daniel Horowitz is an attorney whose practice protects physicians in matters that includes drug issues and treatment. He advocates strongly for rehabilitation and second chances but his background in criminal law makes him a tough partner to the addicted physician. He will not put "perfume on a pig" 'and pass it off as a cure. Instead he works with his doctors and their family to reach true resolution and control of the underlying problem so that reinstatement and reintegration is effective.