Workplace mobbing and ganging up against someone for whatever reason is a sad reality of life. The current state of the peer review process provides a handy tool to achieve so among members of the medical profession. I read the following comment, published in the Yakima Herald Internet edition http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/11/24/11-24-10-letters-to-the-editor-online-only-edition
Regardless whether the details are accurate or not, the message is that doctors can gang up against another who can be regarded as an unwelcome addition to the staff. The reasons can be any number of possibilities, but the results can be devastating to a physician.
11/24/10 Letters to the Editor, online-only edition
Yakima Herald-Republic
Dr. Smigaj will be missed
To the editor -- I felt heartsick and despairing when I read the Nov. 11 article in your newspaper that Dr. Diana Smigaj was giving up her OB practice in Yakima. Dr. Smigaj is a wonderful and very competent OB who has delivered many babies over her 15 years of practice in Yakima. Because of her specialty, she handled many high-risk births as well as normal/regular deliveries. In addition to her clinical expertise, Dr. Smigaj is a genuine, caring, kind and determined woman who is very dedicated to her patients, to their families, and to her staff. She has assembled a clinical staff of very capable women -- nurse-midwives, nurses, physician assistant and technicians who share her mission and values of supportive and good medical care.
Many women, including myself, prefer a woman physician especially for birthing and gynecological care. This preference is nothing more or less than a personal preference.
I recruited and hired Dr. Smigaj to practice in Yakima when the board of St. Elizabeth Medical Center decided to reopen obstetric services in 1995. Most OBs in Yakima and Memorial Hospital opposed the birthing center. Even prior to her arrival in Yakima, there was resistance to Dr. Smigaj and one OB-GYN told her that he was opposed to her being hired by St. Elizabeth and she would be deeply resented if she came to Yakima this way. Dr. Smigaj came despite this warning. It was soon apparent that these warnings were indicative of things to come.
I believe the Yakima Valley benefits greatly from having Dr. Smigaj and her staff, and I feel sadness for her but also for the good folks in the Yakima Valley who need her expertise.
BARBARA HOOD
Louisville, Ky.
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