SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- After suspicious behavior and inconsistencies
were revealed in a routine audit of controlled substances, Dr. Trindle
was asked to submit to a drug test. He tested positive for Fentanyl.
At the time, Dr. Trindle was participating in a now-defunct diversion
program for substance abusing physicians. Doctors were allowed to
continue to practice and keep their substance abuse secret from
patients. After failing five state audits, this program no longer
exists; currently, there is no program for substance abusing doctors to
get the help they need. Dr. Trindle eventually failed out of the
program.
After his positive drug test, the Medical Board opened an
investigation. Dr. Trindle admitted to a Medical Board investigator that
he had stolen Fentanyl, Sufenta, and Propofol from his hospital. He
also admitted to working at the hospital while under the influence. The
Medical Board called Dr. Trindle's actions "potentially injurious to the
patients at the hospital that he was treating."
Before the Medical Board could discipline Dr. Trindle for being
impaired at work, Dr. Trindle caused a car crash with a blood alcohol
level of 0.19%, more than double the legal limit. Even though the other
driver had been hurt, Dr. Trindle fled the scene. He was eventually
caught and arrested.
The Medical Board placed Dr. Trindle on probation, requiring random
drug screenings. While on probation, Dr. Trindle tested positive for
alcohol – a blatant violation of his probation. Two months later, Dr.
Trindle again tested positive for alcohol. Still, the Medical Board did
nothing. Finally, a positive drug test for cocaine eventually led to Dr.
Trindle's surrender of his medical license.
Sources: http://www2.mbc.ca.gov/BreezePDL/default.aspx?licenseType=G&licenseNumber=63287
Proposition 46, the Troy and Alana Pack Patient Safety Act, will
enact the first law in the nation to require random drug and alcohol
tests of physicians in hospitals, modeled after the Federal Aviation
Administration testing program that has successfully reduced substance
abuse by pilots. Doctors found to be impaired on the job will have their
license suspended. If Prop 46 had been in effect, Dr. Trindle’s drug
and alcohol abuse may have been detected, possibly preventing threats to
patient safety in the process.
Hall of Shame: Insurance Companies Backing No on 46
NorCal Mutual Insurance Company $11,000,000.00
Cooperative of American Physicians $10,161,489.04
The Doctors Company $10,000,000.00
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan $5,000,000.00
Medical Insurance Exchange of California $5,000,000.00
The Dentists Insurance Company $1,620,000.00
The Mutual Risk Retention Group $1,000,000.00
All Insurers: $43,916,007.28
Total: $58,465,858.90
Insurance companies have spent nearly $44 million dollars to oppose Prop
46 in order to shield dangerous doctors like Dr. Trindle from
punishment, at the expense of patient safety, in order to protect their
already substantial profits. In total, the opposition to Prop 46 has
over $58 million dollars in their warchest, outspending consumer and
patient safety advocates more than 8:1.
Learn more about Proposition 46 and the campaign for patient safety at: www.yeson46.org
(The original article states the following but we were not paid for publishing this, We are doing it on our own free will)
Paid for by Yes on Prop. 46, Your Neighbors for Patient Safety, a
Coalition of Consumer Attorneys and Patient Safety Advocates - major
funding by Consumer Attorneys of California Issues and Initiative
Defense Political Action Committees and Kabateck, Brown, Kellner, LLP.
No comments:
Post a Comment