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Slippery slope for Physicians because while your medical records are private in most cases HIPPA will not cover your right to privacy if the physician has a real concern that you may not be safe to practice. In that case he or she is required to report you to the board. He/She would also have to report you to law enforcement if they felt you were actively suicidal or homicidal or if in their opinion you were "Gravely Disabled" by reason of mental illness. Once such a report is made your medical history becomes a matter of public record.
That's the legal stuff.
Now if you are new in a program of recovery with a state board monitoring you there will be rules for disclosure of past medical and treatment history that you will be required to follow. You usually have to disclose the names of your doctors you see and what medications you are taking and for how long you've been taking them. If you withhold any part of that history and the board finds out it may disqualify you from the program and further jeapordize your license. It's best not to try to hide anything from the board regarding any recent psychiatric treatment. In may in fact be in your favor to disclose such information as it indicates you were attempting to seek help for your problem.
A specific example might be. You tested positive for benzo's but have a prescription written by a Dr. who is treating you for anxiety as opposed to your buying that medication off the internet or diverting it from hospital supply. In any case you should not have been using benzo's at work but at least you could show you had a valid reason for it's being in your system.
Remember that effective recovery from addiction requires a program of rigorous honesty in all your affairs. That means hiding nothing from those involved in your treatment.
Peace and Namaste
Hppy
