Former Harvard resident suit over probation goes to trial

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http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyl...al-resident/AkPNTrUkAlcmyTgc0OQKdN/story.html

http://pacer.mad.uscourts.gov/dc/cg...asper/pdf/shervin 10-10601 memo and order.pdf

 

[throw away]

People who get into Mass General's orthopedic residency are generally not the type of people who are tardy, skip things, don't see patients, and have low exam scores. IF someone did have these problems, then the issues would show up long before fourth year. Plus ortho in general has a reputation for taking interpersonal conflicts too far and for propagating gender discrimination. Most damningly, in the deposition there are attendings who testify that she was indeed discriminated/retaliated against. Sounds to me like she probably has a case.

 

[KnuxNole]

People who get into Mass General's orthopedic residency are generally not the type of people who are tardy, skip things, don't see patients, and have low exam scores. IF someone did have these problems, then the issues would show up long before fourth year. Plus ortho in general has a reputation for taking interpersonal conflicts too far and for propagating gender discrimination. Most damningly, in the deposition there are attendings who testify that she was indeed discriminated/retaliated against. Sounds to me like she probably has a case.

Well you don't know for sure. They could appear good on paper, but easily do all of those things on July 1st.

 

[throw away]

Well you don't know for sure. They could appear good on paper, but easily do all of those things on July 1st.

Yep, in which case they would have complaints against them or poor evaluations starting first year, not part way through fourth year. I think the chances of someone having these types of fundamental issues, getting into a "good" residency, and then not having any correctional action taken in 4 years is a stretch. I think that the problems cropping up for the first time during fourth year is even more of a stretch.

Also only two specific examples were cited in the paper trial. One of them was missing an anatomy lecture. You'd think that if she was that bad, they'd have a lot more compelling examples documented.

Of course I don't know the whole story though...

 

[throw away]

As an aside, allowing for other residents to stand up and walk out during her thesis presentation was a totally dick move which says a lot about the overall culture of the program.

 

[DermViser]

People who get into Mass General's orthopedic residency are generally not the type of people who are tardy, skip things, don't see patients, and have low exam scores. IF someone did have these problems, then the issues would show up long before fourth year. Plus ortho in general has a reputation for taking interpersonal conflicts too far and for propagating gender discrimination. Most damningly, in the deposition there are attendings who testify that she was indeed discriminated/retaliated against. Sounds to me like she probably has a case.

She already graduated from the program: http://www.hms.harvard.edu/ortho/resident_life/res_life_graduation.html

Just curious (I believe her), why she's suing now? To get the probation of her record?

 

[Winged Scapula]

She already graduated from the program: http://www.hms.harvard.edu/ortho/resident_life/res_life_graduation.html

Just curious (I believe her), why she's suing now? To get the probation of her record?

My take on it is that she feels that beyond the probation, there was a systematic effort to not only deny her post fellowship employment at MGH and its affiliates (which had been discussed as a possibility prior to the probation ) but also to effectively blackball her professionally.

 

[DermViser]

My take on it is that she feels that beyond the probation, there was a systematic effort to not only deny her post fellowship employment at MGH and its affiliates (which had been discussed as a possibility prior to the probation ) but also to effectively blackball her professionally.

Wouldn't surprise me at all considering how much market share Partners has in Massachusetts, thus affecting her job prospects. If that memo is to believed it really seems they were trying to badger her and create a miserable work environment for her.

• There was an anesthesiologist at Beth Israel who also sued for gender discrimination and won: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/hea...r-bias-suit/zXyke5jXn2Oztrgp04KzeN/story.html.

• A female neurosurgeon who sued for general discrimination at Brigham and Women's and won: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/07/21/day#sthash.dh1KXE4q.dpbs

Harvard has hit the trifecta (MGH, BWH, and BIDMC) so far. Now I guess all they need is someone to sue for gender discrimination at Boston's Children's and they'll have all 4 of their teaching hospitals covered, when it comes to gender discrimination lawsuits.

 

[BlondeDocteur]

She was able to graduate and practice. That being said, four years of ortho residency wear you down. You can easily see how a bright-eyed intern could become a depressed R4 who is sloppy, late, careless and miserable. Whose academic performance is affected by the sleeplessness, stress, and infighting. Both sides could be right simultaneously.

 

[HooliganSnail]

Ortho is a bit of a boy's club. It is not outside the realm of possibility that discrimination existed.