Proposed Mandatory Drug Testing For Doctors Won't Work, ACLU Says
![Doctors](https://d.medicaldaily.com/en/full/225207/doctors.jpg?w=640&f=e1e52491d087fbfc69cb0238181002ab)
A state ballot proposal in California aimed toward making drug tests mandatory for all doctors has been branded "a publicity stunt" by one California Medical Association spokeswoman.
The aptly named "Pee in the Cup" initiative has received a substantial amount of backing from former AOL and NetZero executive Bob Pack. Pack knows all too well about the dangers of substance abuse after an intoxicated driver took the lives of his 10-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter.
Along with fellow political activists Harvey Rosenfield and Chris Lehane, Pack has raised $2 million in support of this campaign, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Other goals of their proposal include increasing the pay outs in medical malpractice cases, disciplinary action for doctors from outside the hospital, and better surveillance for writing prescriptions.
The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 makes it mandatory for all federal grantees and some federal contractors to provide a drug-free working environment upon receiving a grant or contract. Conditions for drug testing vary by state.
In California, testing on state employees depends on positions of "sensitivity," if testing is job-related. Advance notification for employee or applicant, documentation showing chain of custody, and confirmation test in case of positive findings are necessary requirements.
Drug testing is met with a great deal of skepticism by medical professionals and politicians due to a range of different issues. For instance, costs of a drug test can run upwards for $50 a person which doesn't include the cost of hiring an outside testing company. The American Civil Liberties Union is actively trying to abolish drug test requirements.
Depending on the method of testing, certain drug screenings have been deemed ineffective in uncovering drug abuse. Drug tests do not account for alcohol consumption and most illicit drugs pass through the system within a week. In fact, marijuana's active ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the only substance that can be detected in a drug test within one month's use.
Lastly, drug testing is seen as the ultimate invasion of privacy considering its direct violation of the Fourth Amendment's protection against unlawful search. This has caused a number of states to rethink drug testing standards.
Residents of California can voice their own opinion on the November 2014 ballot.