Health Professionals and Opioid Addiction

Just like airline pilots, the ability of health professionals to place public safety first, doing their job well and unimpaired, is essential. Health professionals are keenly aware of their ethical and moral responsibilities. But through the lens of addicted thinking, an individual may rationalize that their use of opioids won’t lead to impaired judgment. That their diversion—appropriating patients’ prescription medication—won’t affect patient safety or lead to malpractice claims.