Opinion ID: 172871
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Disruptive Conduct Investigation

Text: As discussed above, Dr. Couch filed a complaint with the WBM in November 2002, alleging Dr. Thomas made two critical errors, and requested that the Board of Medicine require a hair drug test of Dr. Thomas . . . . (Aplt. App. 558-59.) On April 14, 2003, the WBM informed Dr. Couch by letter that the Board's investigation of this matter has disclosed no evidence that Dr. Thomas was either impaired and/or incompetent as alleged in your complaint. (Id. at 563.) Following the WBM's finding that Dr. Couch's complaint against Dr. Thomas and his request for Dr. Thomas to undergo drug testing were unsubstantiated, Dr. Thomas, on May 20, 2003, filed a disruptive conduct report [3] with MHCC's Executive Committee, [4] complaining that Dr. Couch reported Dr. Thomas to the WBM without first discussing those concerns with Dr. Thomas and following internal review procedures. [5] In response to the complaint, on June 19, 2003, Dr. Duane Abels, the hospital's chief of staff, established an ad hoc committee consisting of Drs. Archie Kirsch and Charles Young to investigate Dr. Thomas's complaint. In turn, the ad hoc committee hired Thomas Rardin to investigate the matter. As a result of his investigation, Rardin prepared a report detailing the substance of his interviews with the doctors and medical staff, [6] which the ad hoc committee relied on in its findings of investigation, dated September 18, 2003, concluding that the method Dr. Couch chose to handle his complaint about Dr. Thomas' care . . . was inappropriate and constitute[d] disruptive conduct. (Aplt. App. 669.) The ad hoc committee explained that Dr. Couch's conduct was inappropriate because he did not follow established practices of medical staff peer review. [And] Dr. Couch was not open and honest with Dr. Thomas or the Critical Care Committee [investigating Dr. Thomas's alleged errors] about his feelings that Dr. Thomas was impaired and committed `two major medical mistakes.' (Id.) The ad hoc committee then forwarded its report on the disruptive conduct complaint to the Credentials Committee. [7] The Credentials Committee concluded that in order for the investigation to proceed a mental/psychiatric evaluation is needed. (Aplt. App. 1357.) By a letter dated October 31, 2003, the Committee directed Dr. Couch to receive an evaluation, at his own expense, with Dr. Michael Gendel in Denver, Colorado. After evaluating Dr. Couch on January 23, 2004, interviewing Dr. Couch's references, and reviewing pertinent documents from the hospital, Dr. Gendel prepared a report, dated February 2004, concluding that Dr. Couch did not suffer from a mental illness or disability. However, Dr. Gendel did recommend that Dr. Couch seek pyschotherapeutic help to develop more nuanced social skills and to better recognize social demands and realities, or alternatively coaching, which is a kind of assistance which focuses on the practical difficulties faced in difficult workplace situations, and their practical solutions. (Id. at 694.) The Credentials Committee reviewed Dr. Gendel's report and on May 11, 2004, it recommended to the Executive Committee that Dr. Couch be placed on probation, that he be ordered to undergo psychotherapeutic treatment with a psychiatrist chosen by the Credentials Committee, that he be required to meet with the Credentials Committee every three to six months and present a progress report from the psychiatrist, and that medical staff be informed of the situation and required to report any disruptive behavior. (Aplt. App. 1359.) On June 2, 2004, the Executive Committee approved all of the Credentials Committee's recommendations concerning Dr. Couch's disruptive conduct, including the probation recommendation, and Dr. Couch was advised accordingly. On January 20, 2005, the Executive Committee revisited this decision and affirmed its June 2, 2004 disposition. Dr. Couch subsequently appealed the Executive Committee's action to an independent three-person hearing panel. [8]