Opinion ID: 1667573
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: MemorandumSeptember 11, 1985:

Text: Charles Warren, M.D.(Ob/Gyn in Huntsville)Dr. Warren advised me that we do not want to insure him. He says that he is a definite mental case and also acts like he is a paranoid schizophrenic. Dr. Warren says he has moved around a lot and feels there are some big problems with him. He says other physicians in the community do not want him. Dr. Warren says he is a big man who weighs about 275 pounds and he says that everyone in the community is afraid of him. He feels we should not insure him. Don Wheeler, M.D.(Ob/Gyn in Huntsville, AL)Dr. Wheeler says that Dr. Reece is a definite zero. He also feels that he has a personality disorder. He says that he could be doing some unnecessary surgery. He says he would not be a good risk. Says we should check into this deeper. Horton Smith, M.D.(Ob/Gyn in Huntsville, AL)Dr. Smith says that Dr. Reece has got a personality problem that he acts very paranoid and strange at times. He says that he might be doing some unnecessary surgery because the indications are bad. Dr. Smith says that he reviewed his charts for one year and the surgery that he had done looked really good. He says he seems to be competent surgically. He says that we should check into this deeper. He says he would not insure. Bill Cameron, M.D.(Ob/Gyn in Huntsville)Dr. Cameron advised me that he would not write him for coverage. He says he has severe emotional problems. He says he does reasonably good work. He says he does not have good patient rapport. He says he would definitely be a high risk. He says that everyone in the community is afraid of him. Would not insure. The defendants based their joint motion for summary judgment on the ground that three documents entitled Authorization to Release Information, one signed by Dr. Reece at the time of each of his three applications with MASA, absolved them of any and all liability related to their supplying information to MASA. The release reads, in part, as follows: The undersigned.... authorizes all medical associations and medical societies in which he is or has been a member, all hospitals in which he now holds or has held staff privileges, the State Board of Medical Examiners for the State of Alabama and any other State in which he has practiced, the State Department of Public Health for the State of Alabama and any other State in which he has practiced or resided, and any and all physicians having information regarding the undersigned, to release to the Society upon its request any information any such person or entity may have which in the judgment of any such person or entity or the Society may have a bearing upon his acceptability to the Society as a professional liability insurance risk. The undersigned hereby releases and agrees to hold harmless all persons or organizations releasing the information described above, their agents, servants, and employees, and the Society, its directors, officers, employees, agents, and members from any liability arising out of the release or use of any information released or furnished pursuant to this authorization, notwithstanding the fact that there may be errors, omissions, or mistakes contained in such released information. The undersigned further agrees that the Society and all persons and organizations described above may rely upon a photostatic copy of this Authorization, which shall be of equal validity with the signed original.