A Letter To Randolph County District Attorney, Garland Yates

In the midst of annexation wars . . . and as yet another North Carolina healthcare fiasco evolves, I am both inspired and disgusted by the lawsuit several major NC newspapers have filed against NC Governor Mike Easley (please note that for all of its high-minded rhetoric about "open government", the N&R did not join this party).

I've lost count of the e-mails and letters I've sent to Raleigh - as a Pediatrician in public service burned by the Teflon-coated liars and cheats running a "non-profit" hospital. I have poured my heart and soul into a lot of that correspondence. Alas, I can count the letters that were answered on one hand. I wonder now how many of them were just thrown away or deleted.

For all of the wonderful rhetoric we've been fed about everyone being equal under the law . . . and the state having our very bests interests at heart, the Easley administration has demonstrated over and over again that it does not give a rat's tail about the people on the front lines of medicine - particularly those caught in the crossfire whilst taking care of the littlest and most vulnerable patients.

I wonder how many of these big, nasty, expensive healthcare crises might have been averted . . . how much money might have been saved . . . indeed who might be alive today . . . if someone in Raleigh were just awake and willing to listen.

Today the following letter was sent via certified mail to the Randolph County District Attorney, the NC Attorney General, and Governor Easley. It was also copied to the the Raleigh N&O. I'm sure some will say it's too long . . . not "concise" enough.

Like I care.


April 16, 2008

Garland Yates
Randolph County District Attorney
176 East Salisbury Street, Suite 305
Asheboro, N.C. 27203

Mr. Yates,

As you well know by now, last Thursday night (April 10th) I appeared at a public hearing on the forced-annexation of Dave’s Mountain (where I own a home) and recounted my experience with Randolph Hospital and your office – as it pertains to allegations of criminal misconduct on the part of senior hospital executives, Robert Morrison and Steven Eblin. My experience is relevant to current events inasmuch as Mr. Morrison was hand-picked to lead the city’s pre-annexation “Asheboro 20/20” effort . . . despite the fact that I appeared before the City Council in April 2004, told the same story and begged for any assistance the Council’s influence might provide. Unfortunately, “small-town-values” are a myth. The city of Asheboro’s steam-roller tactics against my neighborhood now very much mirror the way Mr. Morrison and his management “team” treated me. My statement and additional commentary (along with the specific allegations) are posted on the Internet at www.drjshousecalls.blogspot.com.

I herein reiterate my request that you refer this case and these allegations . . . which were first brought to your attention in 2003 (and were re-submitted in 2005) . . . to the North Carolina Attorney General’s office for a full and proper investigation/prosecution.

Since my forced participation as an expert witness in “The State v. Watts” in 1999 (which was unsuccessfully prosecuted at the appellate level in 2000 by then-Attorney General Easley’s office), your office has treated me with “habitual intemperance” . . . as demonstrated by your repeated refusal to interview me or to take my calls on this matter. In fact, as the statutes of limitations on civil fraud ticked out, neither the Asheboro Police Department nor the Randolph County Sheriff’s department conducted ANY KIND of investigation. Moreover, the SBI shut down an inquiry before it could start because YOU told them you would not prosecute. They told me to take it up with you. So I am. Forgive me, but if this is what constitutes “law enforcement” in Asheboro, I’d rather not pay even more taxes to support it.

North Carolina General Statute is very clear about the definition of . . . and penalty for . . . perjury (which has no statute of limitations) . . . as well as my rights as a victim of that perjury. I should not have to hire lawyers or sue anybody to see your office enforce the law. Is it really your position, as Randolph County DA, that “non-profit” hospital administrators in this town – in this state – have a FREE PASS TO LIE in your Courts?

Your treatment of me in this situation amounts to a “reverse-Nifong”.

A host of scandals now coming to light resoundingly demonstrate that medical and legal oversight in North Carolina has long been a sad, sorry joke Jim Black and Thomas Wright went to jail for their various lies and schemes. Governor Easley himself has now been sued for violating public records law. As an “ordinary” citizen/doctor pursuing a case for justice’s sake – as opposed to political gain or career advancement, I grow weary of watching overpaid, “non-profit” hospital executives Robert Morrison and Steven Eblin skip merrily along without suffering ANY kind of substantive sanction or punishment . . . for violating federal & state service agreements . . . for lying under Oath about matters relevant to a damages in a Randolph County court proceeding . . . for treating the Court with contempt . . . and for perpetuating a fraud – not just upon me, but the community that they cheated out of two good Pediatricians.

I served my obligation to the state honorably and well. By ALL accounts, I was treated horrendously by Randolph Hospital. I went to Court in order to get back something that was wrongfully taken from me . . . in order to be vindicated and restore a practice (built with public money) that was destroyed by a hospital whose ONLY concern was about monopolizing all of the Pediatric “business” for itself. I believed in the system – and the process – and it has totally failed me.

Since this “slow-moving-train-wreck” (perpetuating a medical cover-up) began ten years ago, I have begged every North Carolina regulatory and law enforcement agency under the sun (including the NC Medical Board and State Bar) for help. I have been ridiculed, marginalized and ignored – my letters to state officials never answered – my e-mails obviously deleted. For the sin of facing down threats to save a dying newborn baby’s life, my practice was destroyed, my future irrevocably altered, and my reputation viciously attacked by a SLAPP suit. Of course, the delicious irony now is that Robert Morrison and Steven Eblin lied in the discovery responses of their own “libel’ lawsuit . . . about matters that were, in fact, public record. Very simply, I was swindled at settlement by blatant, in-your-face perjury and contempt . . . committed by local “very important people” who thought they were above the law and could get away with it. As the Chief Law Enforcement Office of Randolph County, you seem to think that it’s okay. It is not.

I’ve never, ever wanted to sue the state of North Carolina or its regulatory bodies, but if the state does not immediately move to hold these administrators and this hospital accountable for their amoral, unethical and criminal misdeeds, I will be re-evaluating all of my civil options.

Once again, this case pertains to the public welfare – as the stated mission of state and federal programs were thwarted by criminal misconduct on the part of “non-profit” hospital administrators (who for some reason are coated in Teflon). I was placed in Asheboro by the NC Department of Rural Health. Indeed, my eligibility for the National Health Service Corps program – as well as Randolph Medical Associates’ suitability as a site – were determined and approved in consultation & conjunction with the NC Department of Health and Human Services. Therefore this case is well within the jurisdiction of the NC Attorney General. I respectfully request that you forward it up and out to Raleigh.

Sincerely,

Mary H. Johnson, M.D., FAAP

cc: Governor Mike Easley
Attorney General Roy Cooper
The Raleigh News & Observer


Anybody wanna take odds?

4/23 Update: And this is why you don't go to the Courthouse or speak to a DA without an appointment. For five years, Garland Yates has REFUSED to schedule an appointment with me to discuss these allegations. He has not answered correspondence or a single phone call. Moreover, neither the the Asheboro Police Department nor Randolph County Sheriff's office have EVER conducted a proper investigation (Morrison and Eblin are just too important to the local scheme - key word, scheme - of things). Yates shut down an SBI investigation before it could start. And he has refused to refer the case to the NC Attorney General - as should have happened when it was first brought to his attention (because of what it entails - and its relevance to the public welfare).

His underlings have done his dirty work (i.e. blowing me off).

So put yourself in my shoes. If I showed up at the Asheboro Courthouse after five years of this crap, I just might be a little put out at that kind of treatment . . . it's just possible that (like this lady who found herself arrested) I might make an ugly scene.

And that's EXACTLY what "the boys" want: the "crazy" lady doctor to make a scene . . . to get arrested. That's what they wanted back when I protested in front of the hospital back in 2004, and they zealously interpreted & selectively applied city ordinances to interfere with my free speech. I was terrifed that day when the police showed up - terrified of the police. I did not, in any way, feel "protected". Neither did friends or family who showed up to watch and be witness to whatever went down.

Making a scene is playing to their hand. Despite they fact that they've pushed all the buttons and pulled the proverbial pigtails, if I surrendered to my frustration/exasperation and made that scene, "the boys" could continue to hone their poor little innocent, "What, who me?" act.

They could continue to blame the victim of their arrogance and neglect and abuse for being angry about their arrogance, neglect and abuse.

B.S. (excuse me, cowpoopoo) to that.