Rescinding an Offer Acceptance?

[hahn91011]

I was recently was offered a residency position at an IM program outside of the match. Although I have 12 months of credit registered with the ABIM, I left my former program nearly 2 years ago to move home and help support my medically challenged widowed mother. They sent me an initial offer acceptance letter (not specifying the PGY year placement) giving me 30 days to accept with contingencies eg. background check, employment app, drug screen/PE, which I have not yet completed. Fearing that I would still be jobless come July, I accepted the initial offer from this program outside of my home state, even though I had other pending applications within my home city that I prefered. The day after, I received an interview and have sinced been 'promised' a PGY2 offer from the preferred home city program, contingent on that I show evidence of being released from the first program. I have also since received the contract from the first program which now specifies that I would need to complete 12 more months of PGY1 work even though we had verbally agreed that I would need to do only a few months before being considered for promotion. I have since contacted this program director and he is now stating that he is not willing to release me from my contractual obligations, even though I never signed a contract (only an offer letter) and it has been only 10 days since the initial offer. Anyone with a similar experience or advise on getting this release? I am hoping to appeal on sympathy e.g. I have a medically challenged mother and dying grandmother as well as a family business that would all be best off if I remained home. Although I think I have a good legal case, I don't want to get involved with any lawyers. Thanks in advance.

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[usnavdoc]

I was recently was offered a residency position at an IM program outside of the match. Although I have 12 months of credit registered with the ABIM, I left my former program nearly 2 years ago to move home and help support my medically challenged widowed mother. They sent me an initial offer acceptance letter (not specifying the PGY year placement) giving me 30 days to accept with contingencies eg. background check, employment app, drug screen/PE, which I have not yet completed. Fearing that I would still be jobless come July, I accepted the initial offer from this program outside of my home state, even though I had other pending applications within my home city that I prefered. The day after, I received an interview and have sinced been 'promised' a PGY2 offer from the preferred home city program, contingent on that I show evidence of being released from the first program. I have also since received the contract from the first program which now specifies that I would need to complete 12 more months of PGY1 work even though we had verbally agreed that I would need to do only a few months before being considered for promotion. I have since contacted this program director and he is now stating that he is not willing to release me from my contractual obligations, even though I never signed a contract (only an offer letter) and it has been only 10 days since the initial offer. Anyone with a similar experience or advise on getting this release? I am hoping to appeal on sympathy e.g. I have a medically challenged mother and dying grandmother as well as a family business that would all be best off if I remained home. Although I think I have a good legal case, I don't want to get involved with any lawyers. Thanks in advance.

I think you are making too much out of this. Just tell them the situation and move on. I highly doubt they will try to force you to sign the cotract and follow through based on you signing a promisary letter. Also if the original verbal agreement that you signed the promisary letter on has now been changed in the contract, then there is breech and you are not obligated.

Just call them up explain and turn them down then move on to the program you want to go to.

 

[surgdia]

But first make sure that the PGY2 position in your home state which you've been 'promised' actually materializes...it would suck to tick off the first program then get left out in the cold by the second.
sd

 

[njbmd]

I was recently was offered a residency position at an IM program outside of the match. Although I have 12 months of credit registered with the ABIM, I left my former program nearly 2 years ago to move home and help support my medically challenged widowed mother. They sent me an initial offer acceptance letter (not specifying the PGY year placement) giving me 30 days to accept with contingencies eg. background check, employment app, drug screen/PE, which I have not yet completed. Fearing that I would still be jobless come July, I accepted the initial offer from this program outside of my home state, even though I had other pending applications within my home city that I prefered. The day after, I received an interview and have sinced been 'promised' a PGY2 offer from the preferred home city program, contingent on that I show evidence of being released from the first program. I have also since received the contract from the first program which now specifies that I would need to complete 12 more months of PGY1 work even though we had verbally agreed that I would need to do only a few months before being considered for promotion. I have since contacted this program director and he is now stating that he is not willing to release me from my contractual obligations, even though I never signed a contract (only an offer letter) and it has been only 10 days since the initial offer. Anyone with a similar experience or advise on getting this release? I am hoping to appeal on sympathy e.g. I have a medically challenged mother and dying grandmother as well as a family business that would all be best off if I remained home. Although I think I have a good legal case, I don't want to get involved with any lawyers. Thanks in advance.

Hi there,
Look carefully at the wording of your offer letter. It may have obligated you more than you think. Also, contact your second program and let them know that you signed an offer letter. I think that your second program is being very cautious with good reason. If possible, show them a copy of the letter that you signed so that they understand your obligations at this point. If you only signed an offer letter, they may be willing to take you without proof of release. Just be as honest as possible with them as it sounds like your initial PD is being a pain.

Whether or not you have a good legal case depends on the content of that "offer letter".

Good luck!

njbmd 🙂

 

[hahn91011]

I agree that this is something that I should proceed carefully with. Time is a limiting factor and I don't want to cause too much harm to my reputation as this is a fairly small circle. First confirming the 'promise' offer would definitely be a good call. I did show the second PD the offer letter which I initially thought was a contract (I found this in the mail after the interview). Regardless, he did not want to sign me without a release. You don't think the first PD would sympathize with my family situation? It is the plain honest truth afterall. Plus, why would you want a potentially bitter employee to start with? Thanks, H