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All Things Considered

September 22, 2021 1:50 PM

Minnesota Board of Medical Practice amends medical license questions on mental health

An examination table inside a clinic. — An examination table is seen at a health center in Blacksville, W. Va. Host Tom Crann spoke with Dr. Zeke McKinney, an occupational medicine physician with Health Partners and president-elect of the Twin Cities Medical Society about the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice’s move to amend the language on its application for medical licenses.
Brendan Smialowski | AFP via Getty Images 2015

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Host Tom Crann spoke with Dr. Zeke McKinney, an occupational medicine physician with Health Partners and president-elect of the Twin Cities Medical Society, about the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice’s move to amend the language on its application for medical licenses.

The application previously asked doctors to disclose all mental health conditions. Now it asks whether doctors have a condition that is not being appropriately treated, which is likely to impair or adversely affect their ability to practice medicine.

McKinney explained that the application created a hesitancy amongst many doctors — including himself — to seek mental help for fear of losing their licenses.

“I don’t know that I have any significant serious mental health problems,” he said. “But to be honest, I wouldn’t want to find out. I was scared that in going to see a mental health clinician I would have to disclose this and consequently potentially have a problem with my license.”

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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