In 2006 Susan Haley, an ER doctor, had a manic episode due to prednisone. She was asked to report this to the Oregon medical board by her work. Board, in turn, told her that they had to open an inquiry to permit her to go back to work. She was asked to enter into a health monitoring program that required her to pay fees. She did not realize what was coming. Board posted her name and the non-disciplinary action on their website and in their newsletter. Her local newspaper read it and ran a story about her. She had subsequent episodes and got more entangled with the board and monitoring program paying $200,000 in attorney’s fees and $100,000 in the monitoring program. She was reported to the National Practice Databank (NPDB) as she was accused of abusing prednisone. Do not forget to read comments from some of the passionate physicians. No wonder 50% of ER physicians surveyed in 2020 are reluctant to seek mental health treatment.
An MD’s Nightmare Began with Reporting Her Manic Episode to the Medical Board