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Theft of prescription meds
Anarchy Rules!
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A couple of days ago I found out that a friend of a friend is stealing prescription medicine. The guy in question is a medical student who's currently on a hospital placement, and the meds are in the diazepam(valium) range. It sounds like they're his personal use and his other flatmates.
The thing is, should I report this/is it worth reporting to the police? If I do, it will almost certainly result in his life being screwed up, but on the otherhand, if I don't do I really want a doctor who steals medication?
The thing is, should I report this/is it worth reporting to the police? If I do, it will almost certainly result in his life being screwed up, but on the otherhand, if I don't do I really want a doctor who steals medication?
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Anyone in a placement/residency is abusing some sort of stimulant or depressant, some prescription, some OTC, to cope with the stress and hours. Maybe they buy it from a friend or something instead. The real answer is that you don't want to be treated by a resident/student.
Kaliyama is a fucking idiot.
What you are looking at, OP, is an impaired physician currently practicing. The AAM and ANA recognize that impaired physicians are a real problem and post a danger to both co-workers by exposing them to increased risk for liability lawsuit as well as the obvious risk to patients. This is why they have anonymous 'whistle blower' protection to medical professionals reporting on one another.
I suppose what makes you a little more removed is the 'friend of a friend' situation. If it was someone I personally knew I would try to get them help and encourage them to report themselves to their residency director. It will not ruin their life, but rather activate the support systems necessary to get them treatment (psychological or otherwise) and then they will finish their residency.
That's how the system works.
So, you could ignore it because it's only a friend of a friend, but take it from someone who works in hospitals with physicians daily and listen - this is only the first step in what inevitably becomes a spiral of more and more inappropriate behavior.
This kid needs a serious wake up call. You need to report this.
My only recommendation is that you prepare yourself for the possible consequences of reporting and, with those in mind, report him in a manner that does the least amount of damage to you.
I don't know if this means trying to leave an anonymous tip, or if it means going to the hospital instead of the police (or vice versa). All I can say is that you should take the necessary steps to make sure you do the right thing in the right way and minimize backlash.
And of course, don't tell your friends what you did. If none of them have reported the guy, then odds are good that they'll sympathize with him when the shit hits the fan. Even if they do see your side, things will be awkward, and that alone could strain or hurt a few relationships.
https://twitter.com/Hooraydiation
Either be straight up about it or let it go. Don't secretly rat on the guy and carry on with your "friends" like nothing happened.
Talk to the guy.
What responsibility does he have to a friend of a friend, and why does this responsibility supersede the moral obligation to report him?
Furthermore, why do you think the OP is in a position to change the friend of a friend's behavior? Even if the thief is receptive, is the OP then responsible for keeping an eye on the thief to make sure he isn't still stealing and abusing prescription meds?
And why should the OP let this affect his relationship with his friends, if that can be avoided? Assuming the thief isn't an intimate relation of one of the OP's friends, I don't see why he should be required to reveal his actions and accept backlash.
https://twitter.com/Hooraydiation
You gain nothing from telling your mutual friends, or him, that you were the one that did it. Even if they don't approve, it puts them in an awkward position, especially those that informed you in the first place.
Sooner or later, he will be caught, and it's entirely possible that the consequences in future may be worse for him if his habit evolves. More importantly, every day that he's at work right now he is putting the health and safety of his patients at risk.
It's a question of integrity. If you aren't willing to own something like that, you shouldn't do it. If your "friends" aren't willing to do anything about something you feel this strongly about and wouldn't back your play, you shouldn't give a fuck what they think.
What's the point in being a weasel to maintain a social circle that doesn't share your values?
So say a friend of a friend happens to be a drug dealer and I tip the cops off anonymously. Does that make me in the wrong because I didn't man up and confront the guy to his face?
Maybe I'm way off base here, but if the guy really is stealing prescription meds from work and passing them out to his buddies, I'd think that the term "drug dealer" would be a reasonably accurate description of the guy.
In Texas, there's something called the Professional Recovery Network. It's a program for pharmacists, medical doctors, and other health professionals as well as students of those professions. Essentially, it's for docs who are in trouble with alcohol, prescription meds, depression -- or whatever. They are not reported to their state licensing board so long as they submit to treatment. And if they don't, they get reported.
It's a very good option that you might want to consider. Not sure what state you're in, but there's probably one in yours. They should have an easily-googlable hotline number.
A) there is nothing "weasely" about reporting someone for doing something that could put lives in jeopardy. As noted above, there's a reason hospitals want to know about staff abusing medication; it puts them at enhanced legal liability, and puts patients in greater potential risk than if their caregivers weren't abusing drugs of one kind or another.
People have found themselves ostracized for far less, and other than some point of pride I don't see why the OP should have to potentially bare that weight on their shoulders while doing the right thing.
If you report him, and there's evidence of stealing, his course will 100% be terminated and his chance of studying medicine again in the UK will be near enough nothing.
Before you go down that route make sure he's still doing this and it wasn't just a one of situation, and find out why he's doing it - recreational use, or is he self-medicating for anxiety/sleeping disorders?
Were I in your situation I'd look at the kind of person he is. If he's clearly abusing his position then fine - tell his medical school, otherwise send him an anonymous tip that you will report his actions.
Chances are other medical students will know too and he'll get found out soon enough.
there is a time for "manning up" and being accountable, etc, and talking to people
reporting a crime is not it, reporting a serious drug theft and abuse is also not it
and yes, if you're stealing prescription meds for personal use, you have a serious drug problem
you're allowed to anonymously report crimes for a reason, do so, please
I'd go with this. You are going to ruin a man's career if you report him. So make sure you're 100% sure that he's still doing it.
Now (and this is my opinion), you have two choices:
If he's taking meds because his course is becoming too much for him then I'd say he needs to be given the chance to quit the drugs and clean himself up. I'm not sure how you can do it, but let him know that if he doesn't clean himself up he will be reported. Being a doctor is massively stressful and though he's stumbled he can still sort himself out.
However if he's abusing his position to steal pills for purely recreational purposes, you should absolutely report it. He's a liability to the NHS and the general public.
I (happily) pay National Insurance to maintain the NHS, so people who can't afford a personal healthcare plan are not refused treatment. Not so some cunt can get high.
Do a google on the institution of where this guy works and I would either make an anonymous phone call to the residency director or e-mail.
Also, you are under no obligation to confront this guy face to face. If you thought you did, you would consider yourselves better friends. Maybe, more importantly, the reason the NHS accepts anonymous tips is because it's easier and more likely than one resident turning in a buddy.
The goal here isn't to satisfy anyone's sense of propriety, but to protect patients and try to save this guy from himself.
For what its worth, even if I found my best buddy in my anesthesia program stealing meds I'd first tell him then report him.
This isn't 'boys will be boys oh he's just coping with his stress'. 99% of residents don't resort to this kind of behavior. This is an example of addictive behavior that isn't going to just go away. It doesn't matter WHY he's doing it.