Ms. April Hughes,
I have been a resident of the Fraser Lake area for the past 36 years and have been under the care of Dr. Beever since the removal of my cancerous left kidney over five years ago. Dr. Jamison, the attending surgeon who performed the operation in Prince George, recommended that I become Dr. Beever’s patient. His comment was that Dr. Beever was an excellent doctor. Dr. Jamison’s recommendation has been borne out. Dr. Beever is an excellent and caring doctor who has made life better for me and others in Fraser Lake and the surrounding area. From a selfish point of view I wonder “who do I get now since he has been summarily dismissed from his position”? Locums are not a satisfactory answer.
I just returned from wintering in southern California and was informed of Dr. Beever’s dismissal at this time. If I had been present when this situation arose I would have corresponded with alacrity then. Here are some questions that are unanswered for me:
The “personnel” problem apparently does not involve the professional competency of Dr. Beever therefore I am left with the conclusion that it is an interpersonal conflict with a member or members of the clinic staff. The following observations are based on personal experience as one who has administrative experience.
An important part of an administrator’s job is to attempt to resolve personnel conflicts by acting as the arbitrator in cases of this nature. Not to do so is the ignoring of one of the first priorities of administrative duties. The following are questions to which I am seeking an answer.
1. Am I correct in the importance of conflict resolution?
a. Are there protocols in place for this type of common situation?
b. Were these protocols followed?
2. Did you as the local administrator attempt to resolve the “personnel problem” prior to the dismissal of Dr. Beever?
3. Did you as the local administrator attempt to ascertain whether Dr. Beever had a good working relationship with his patients?
4. Did you as local administrator consult other concerned individuals in the Fraser Lake health area?
5. Did you as the local administrator have direct and meaningful discussions with your superiors at Northern Health? If so did you have their full support prior to the decision not to renew Dr. Beever’s contract?
If your answer to the above questions is an unqualified “yes” then you have acted in a proper manner.
When I examine the limited information at my disposal the answer of “yes” rings more like a resounding “No”. I believe that I read “no comment could be made because it is a personnel problem”. It should not be necessary to stand behind such a ploy if the answers to the above questions are, yes, yes... Times, dates and other disclosures of non personal information in this matter certainly could be made public if those actions actually took place. By this is meant, actions that took place during not after the fact of contract non renewal.
Another aspect of your actions center on the Health System of Canada and by extension that of British Columbia. Funding for the system is through tax dollars and in British Columbia the Lottery Corporation of British Columbia. The administrative actions of individuals in directing the use and expenditure of such a fund are responsible for such monetary allocations and thus legally, morally, and ethically accountable not only to their superiors but to the general public. Is “YES” the correct response to this statement? Were the moral and ethical aspects adhered to?
If the Northern Health administration was informed and fully aware of the proceedings taking place in the Fraser Lake Clinic and items 1-5 had been clearly and duly followed then I have no argument with the Northern Health administration. If, on the other hand, intelligent administrative actions were to taken and the Northern Health administration did not see fit to rectify these actions it leaves a big question as to what those heading our health program in the north are doing to see that we get quality health care. The loss of a fine doctor in the person of, Dr. Beever, leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
A concerned citizen and patient,
Sherman L. McClure
BS, MS, PhD (Chemistry)