D.C. medical board on cusp of positive licensing application change
The Board of Medicine of the District of Columbia recently voted to change its licensing application to remove the potential that applicants will have to disclose past treatment for mental health or substance use when there is no current impairment. The updated question asks, “Do you have a condition that currently impairs your judgement or adversely affects your ability to practice medicine in a competent, ethical, and professional manner? (Yes/No)”
“We are grateful to the medical board for its action,” said Medical Society of the District of Columbia President Matt Lecuyer, MD, MPH. “We believe this change will make it safer for physicians to seek treatment while also ensuring the medical board retains its ability to protect patient safety.”
The change is part of the AMA’s national campaign to remove language from licensing, credentialing and other applications that deter medical students, residents and practicing physicians from seeking care. The previous question asked, “Do you have a medical condition that impairs or limits or may impair or limit your ability to practice your profession?”
The AMA and Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation have advised dozens of medical boards and hundreds of health systems to remove subjective qualifiers such as “may impair” and focus on whether a “current” impairment exists.
“It may seem like a small change, but the phrase ‘may impair’ would require disclosure of probably all chronic conditions, and we know that disclosure to licensing boards and employers is a top reason why health care professionals don’t seek treatment,” said Dr. Lecuyer.
When the change goes into effect, D.C. will become the 44th medical board to have applications consistent with AMA and the Breen Foundation recommendations.
