Exhibit A: From Dr. Robert Scott Of White Oak Family Physicians

I've decided to take a detour before I proceed with my planned posts on (1) the myth of excellent physician "self-regulation" provided by the N.C. Medical Board, and (2) "Part Three" in my series from the legal files (concerning the then-Moses Cone-owned doctor I rescued and could have/should have sued for slander . . . right along with the deeper pockets that owned him).

Of course, I didn't sue him. It wasn't done. I played by the rules. And the rules don't work.

I think it's prudent to offer some Exhibits first. I need to establish just exactly why the LDRP (Labor/Delivery/Recovery/Postpartum) nurses called me that fateful night in January 1998 . . . when they were afraid a newborn baby was going to die needlessly right in front of their eyes.

We're going to start with recommendation letters from my colleagues in Asheboro. These letters were written after I was fired . . . shortly after RMA's bogus six month "notice period" had expired (translation: it was NOT "severance" pay) . . . and only after it became clear that returning to Asheboro to practice would not be a viable/safe option until Randolph Hospital executives were held accountable.

Of course, in terms of getting another job within driving distance of my home, these letters were pretty much worthless.

You see, during the 6-month "notice" period . . . between February 6 and August 2 1998 . . . in which I was still employed by RMA (but banned from their offices), and prohibited from working elsewhere - under threat of termination-for-cause (translation: I was collecting my salary - NOT "severance" pay - as so many Board members told parents when they complained), I slowly began to realize that I had been black-balled locally. At least two physician recruiters told me that it was pointless to look within a 90-mile radius of Asheboro. These people had no reason to lie to me. They were actually looking to place me in any one of several positions open at the time within commuting distance - leads that suddenly went dead as soon as my CV landed on a prospective employer's desk.

At least one recruiter traced the source of my problem to Randolph Hospital's then-physician recruiter (now long gone).

Of course, Bob and Steve denied having anything to do with it.

Dr. Anderson (who left Randolph Medical Associates a year after I did) was told the same thing. She suffered from guilt-by-association We were "trouble-makers". She went back to Arkansas.

North Carolina's loss.

The exhibits are offered as evidence that, despite the word Bob Morrison and Steven Eblin put out to the community . . . word that fueled a lot of nasty rumor & innuendo, Dr. Mary Johnson was, in fact, the ultimate team player. And she was worth much more than "a dime a dozen".

So. For the next several days, I'll be posting these letters one at a time. The posts will be linked on my sidebar. Regular posting on other subjects of interest will continue.

Of course, the letter I value the most (not actually used as a letter of recommendation) was from a Med/Surg/Peds nurse . . . to Bob Morrison . . . questioning the hospital's actions against me. It has already been published as "Part One" in my series from the legal files.

The first letter of recommendation is from Dr. Robert Scott, of White Oak Family Physicians, dated November 2, 1998:

To Whom It May Concern:

I have worked with Dr. Mary Johnson for three and a half years and have enjoyed our professional relationship tremendously. Mary is an excellent Pediatrician. She is very attentive to her patients. She displays excellent medical skills in all areas of Pediatrics. She has a particular strength in neonatal care and has been invaluable to me on many occasions working with the critically ill infants prior to transport. I would rank her skills in this area in the 99% percentile of other Pediatricians I have worked with.

Her skills in general Pediatrics are also excellent and I do not mean to disparage those skills in any way when I speak so highly of her nursery skills. She is quite good with older children and has helped me on consultations with hospitalized older children. I am also aware of kind things said by folks in the community who have brought their children to her in an outpatient setting.

She has the highest standards and I have never had any reason to doubt her word or her ethics. She is a tireless worker and holds up quite well to the physical and psychological demands that medical practice places against all of us these days.

I recommend her highly for any position that you might consider her for.

Robert Scott, M.D.

Of course, if you listened to the self-serving mumbo-jumbo Bob & Steve had put out to justify their actions, Dr. Robert Scott must be a liar;)

Once again, I cannot emphasize enough to any Pediatrician looking at a position with RMA or Randolph Hospital: STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM THIS HOSPITAL AS LONG AS BOB MORRISON AND STEVEN EBLIN REMAIN EMPLOYED TO RUN IT!