This article discusses the treatment of physicians for mental illnesses. It outlines aspects of treatment sensitive to physician-as-patient & provides certain recommendations to physicians for the treatment of other physicians. Physician impairment is analyzed in relation to alcoholism, nonorganic psychiatric impairment, organic psychiatric impairment, & human immunodeficiency virus infections. It is noted that very often physicians will not seek treatment, for such things as suicidal thoughts, in order to avoid stigma or shame. (43 refs) (SC)