Tuesday, February 19, 2008

They Fired My Doctor!!!

Doctor claims her activism got her fired

Packard Community Clinic says Catherine Wilkerson refused to sign contract

Thursday, February 14, 2008

BY JO COLLINS MATHIS The Ann Arbor News

Ann Arbor physician Catherine Wilkerson says she's been fired from the Packard Community Clinic for her political activism.

Officials with the clinic insist that's not the case and say she was dismissed for refusing to sign an employee contract.

Wilkerson said she refused to sign the contract because it included a vague clause that violates her freedom of speech and is unlike anything she's seen in a contract in her 30 years in medicine.

"I think the clause was put in as a tool to force me out of the clinic,'' she said.

Jim Frenza, chairman of the clinic's board of trustees, said the contract is among the standard papers given to all clinic employees.

"Obviously, we're concerned because there are two stories out there,'' said Frenza. "One I think is factual, and the other is the story she's providing people.''

Frenza said several weeks ago Wilkerson was offered a contract identical to the one the clinic's other two physicians were given, and she failed to sign it within the required four weeks. She also refused to sign a letter of acceptance that went along with a new employee manual. Signing the letter is a condition of employment, he said, and others signed it.

"We obviously take a very, very strong exception to what she's saying on her Web site,'' he said, referring to www.defendwilkerson.org, which is organizing an online petition drive in support of Wilkerson.

Wilkerson, who has worked at the clinic for five years, is an outspoken critic of the local Jewish community's support for Israel.

Last December, she was found not guilty in a trial after she was charged with interfering with police and emergency responders during a disturbance at a guest lecturer's speech at the University of Michigan in November 2006.

Wilkerson claims that last October, before the trial, clinic medical director Ray Rion told her she was not a good fit for the clinic because of her political activities, citing the publicity surrounding the approaching criminal trial and her human rights activities on behalf of the Palestinian people.

Three weeks after a jury found her not guilty on Dec. 3, Wilkerson said Rion gave her a contract requiring her to refrain from conduct, both at work and outside of work, which reflects negatively on the reputation and public image of the clinic; which negatively affects the ability of the clinic to retain current patients, attract new patients or attract donations; or which may otherwise in Rion's judgment reflect poorly upon the public image of Wilkerson or the clinic.
Calls to Rion were referred to Frenza.

The clinic has offered Wilkerson a severance agreement and a letter of recommendation related to her clinical skills.

Wilkerson said she wants a contract, not a severance agreement.

Wilkerson said she's exploring her options for the future, but is still willing to sit down and negotiate a fair contract with the clinic.

Frenza said two other employees have also resigned, including her nurse and a care provider who worked one day a week. He said he's concerned about the clinic's reputation because of the controversy surrounding Wilkerson, but noted that the clinic has a 35-year history in the area with many loyal patients.

The clinic, at 3174 Packard Road, is a primary and mental health care practice that serves patients regardless of ability to pay. More than 50 percent of patients are uninsured.
Jo Mathis can be reached at jmathis@annarbornews.com or 734-994-6849.

http://www.mlive.com/annarbor/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-26/120300363145120.xml&coll=2

This was my Doctor & was 1 of the best I have ever had. She went out of her way to find out what was wrong with me. 4 years & a lot of pain. The other doctors at PCC would just give me a pill. Dr. Wilkerson would even do follow up calls to make sure I was doing ok! It seems that
McCarthyism is alive & well & is practiced at Packard Community Clinic.

6 comments:

Life As I Know It Now said...

that just sucks bigtime! good doctors are hard enough to find as it is. it should be against the law for the clinic to try to shut her up for being political. gdit! isnt' this home of the free and the brave?

Psychomikeo said...

My America has become "The Home Of The Fee & Land Of The Slave"

Anonymous said...

Now Dr. Wilkerson's prosecutor is running for Judge, in Ann Arbor!

So is the biggest Zionist on Ann Arbor City Council.

Here is the video, against City Council member Joan Lowenstein's run for the judgeship:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqFiFzUXA7A


**************************

Psychomikeo said...

Wow I should of known!!! So I lose my doctor so afew ______ can get a better job & more fuckin' power!

HopeSpringsATurtle said...

Mikey...I'm so sorry to hear. Having been married to a physician for many years, I know the rarity of finding good, attentive medical care. Doctor aren't any different than anyone else. The range runs the gamut from criminally irresponsible to extraordinary, but most people fall somewhere in the spectrum which seems to average out around 'adequate.'

I wish the best outcome for your physician and hope she finds a workplace that appreciates her skills while appreciating her passion for the constitution.

Good luck finding someone new.

Psychomikeo said...

Thank you