Psychological testing for physicians; ethics of discounting
Ethics Forum. April 1, 2002.
Scenario: Should psychological testing be required to practice medicine?
Many public service positions require that applicants and employees complete psychological testing. Why do physicians not have such requirements? Should medical students undergo psychological tests before graduating? Should such tests be instituted for physicians to hold a license?
Reply:
In order to provide effective patient care, physicians must possess strong psychological adaptive and coping capabilities. These skills allow physicians to apply their medical knowledge, deal with the stresses of the profession, and communicate with patients, peers and staff.
As part of a forthcoming report, Colorado Personalized Education for Physicians analyzed data from a population of practicing physicians who had been referred for an evaluation of their clinical competence between 1996 and 1998.
Physicians are usually required to participate in CPEP's program because their clinical knowledge and decision-making have come in question. However, 8% of physicians in this cohort had been sent to the program for a complete, structured assessment because of problems with their behavior. Behavioral concerns, such as inappropriate professional interactions with colleagues, ethical or sexual misconduct, were a secondary issue for 39% of the referred physicians. These data confirm that psychological functioning is an important consideration for the practice of medicine. Problems in this area can have a long-term impact on all aspects of a physician's professional career.
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