Ethics and Management of Substance Use Disorders in Anesthesiology: Detection, Intervention, and Treatment Through...

Prevention, detection, intervention, treatment, and recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs) in anesthesiology must include adherence to the 4 principles of bioethics. Impaired physicians must be afforded autonomy to the extent appropriate while also ensuring that no patient is harmed, or care compromised. Departments and health systems must also avoid causing further harm to the physician suffering from an SUD. The goal for recovery is to create a process that protects patients and colleagues while also considering the implications for the compromised physician. Ill physicians should receive equal treatment and protections as other persons.