I have a substance abuse
problem. It hasn’t affected my care . . . yet. Am I required to report myself? If I do, what can I expect to happen?
It is important to remember that aggravating and mitigating circumstances will be considered in every case. Self-reporting is highly encouraged, and the sooner the better. Doing so will weigh heavily in your favor. Waiting until someone gets hurt, or being reported by someone else, will weigh against you. Failure to report yourself looks suspiciously like trying to conceal your condition and that will not help you at all.
Despite the stigma often associated with it, substance abuse is a medical condition that won’t go away on its own. There is no shame in seeking help—quite the opposite, it is an admirable step that not enough people are willing to take. If you’ve recognized that you have a problem, it is best to act before anything bad happens to your patients (or yourself).
Yes. RCW 18.130.180(22) states that the current misuse of alcohol, controlled substances, and/ legend drugs constitutes unprofessional conduct. Because of the potential for this misuse to endanger your patients, you must report yourself.
The good news is, if you recognized your condition early and your patients have experienced little to no harm or risk of harm, it is highly unlikely that self-reporting will result in serious discipline. Per the continuum of substance abuse severity outlined in WAC 246-16-850, severity is divided into three tiers: that which has minimal patient harm or risk of harm, that which has moderate harm or risk, and that which results in severe physical injury or death or risk thereof. At the lower end of that continuum, the sanction range includes reprimand, training, monitoring, probation, supervision, evaluation, and treatment, up to oversight for five years. No matter what, you can count on being ordered to undergo monitoring and most likely treatment. Technically that is punitive, but if we look at this in context, you’re reporting yourself—presumably out of concern for yourself and your patients—so it is reasonable to assume you want to correct your condition. If so, you’re going to seek treatment. Having that assigned to you by the state, along with monitoring to ensure you’re in compliance, is more rehabilitative than punitive.
In the middle of the continuum, some harm or risk thereof did occur to a patient. But not death and nothing permanently disabling. The sanction range for this includes everything in the lower tier, as well as suspension, up to license revocation. In any event, the sanction for this tier will not be for less than two years, unless your license is revoked.
At the high end of the continuum, severe injury or death, or the risk thereof, actually occurred to a patient under your care. The minimum sanction for this is a one-year suspension AND oversight for an additional five years, as well as all of the sanctioning options of the two lower tiers. The maximum includes permanent practice conditions/restrictions, or license revocation. Either way, the sanction for this tier will not be for less than six years.
When does the early bird rate expire for WSCA Connect ‘25?
Prices for WSCA Connect ’25 registration will go up on June 1. Additionally, the WSCA employs a three-phase pricing scheme for its conferences. There is the early bird price, the pre-registration price, and late/onsite price. The late/onsite price takes effect two weeks prior to the conference. This is because we have to submit our guaranteed headcount to the venue at that time and adding anyone after that will incur a fee to the association. It’s best to register early. Conference planning is well ahead of schedule this year and, if it hasn’t already been announced by the time you receive this issue of Plexus, you’ll be hearing of the speaker list very soon. Don’t wait any longer—register now at
www.wscaconnect.com.
Each issue of Plexus features several frequently asked questions about chiropractic in Washington. If you have any questions you’d like to see shared in the magazine, please submit them to:
Washington State Chiropractic Association
c/o Shaka Forest, Membership Director 1120 Pacific Ave., Ste. 206 Tacoma, WA 98402
wsca@chirohealth.org
Ple x u s April/May 20 2 5
19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32