Management of impaired physicians in Europe.
BACKGROUND
A significant percentage of physicians may be impaired at some point in their career by substance dependence, psychiatric and neurological disease.


METHODS
Literature review.


RESULTS
While the United States and a few other countries have addressed the problem since the 70's, most European countries still have no national or hospital policy to deal with impaired physicians.


CONCLUSIONS
According to European directives on workers' health and safety, the occupational health physician entrusted with medical surveillance of hospital workers is often mandated to manage impaired professionals.


CONCLUSIONS
Strategies for early identification, treatment and rehabilitation of impaired physicians are reviewed and suggestions for preventive action in European countries are given.
Magnavita
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Institute of Occupational Medicine, Catholic University School of Medicine, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy. nmagnavita@rm.unicatt.it
D000574:American Medical Association; D003219:Confidentiality; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010815:Physician Impairment / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States