Transsexual Road Map > Films
and Books > BBL Clearinghouse > The Anne Who Would
Be Queen > 1997
Incident > Lawyer response
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Transsexual Road Map > Films
and Books > BBL Clearinghouse > The Anne Who Would
Be Queen > 1997
Incident > Lawyer response
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Financing Insurance Workplace Legal issues Name choice Name change Driver’s license Birth certificate Passport Marriage Will Other documents
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The Anne Who Would Be Queen: 1997 lawyer response to investigators Below is best available copy of the text and scan of the letter by legal counsel for Anne Lawrence in response to investigators regarding a 31 March 1997 incident which led Lawrence to resign as an anesthesiologist from Swedish Health Services in Seattle. The State of Washington Department of Health initiated an investigation through their Health Professions Quality Assurance Commission as case number 97-05-0042MD. Tarutis & Barron, P.S. Gerald R. Tarutis Monica M. Welch 3900 Bank of California Building August 25, 1997 Via Certified Mail Virginia Renz, Investigator Re: Anne Lawrence, M.D. Dear Ms. Renz: I am enclosing Dr. Anne Lawrence’s response to your request for information
about her resignation from Swedish Medical Center and the subsequent Data Bank
Report. With her letter is a copy of her current Curriculum Vitae and evidence
of her last three years Continuing Medical Education. I have enclosed her summary
of CME credit hours, copies of her category I and II credits. I have not enclosed
supporting data for her category III as it is the nature of anesthesia records
and, therefore, I will not do so unless specifically requested as they contain
confidential patient data. Dr. Lawrence resigned her clinical privileges at Swedish Medical Center following
summary peer review action based on a single incident in which she conducted
a brief examination of a patient prior to hysterectomy. The examination was
not done with the consent of the patient and Dr. Lawrence was the anesthesiologist,
not the gynecologist. I believe that Swedish Medical Center will tell you that
Dr. Lawrence’s clinical competence was not at issue in this case. Rather
it was a matter of an isolated lapse in personal judgement. Dr. Lawrence has
taken responsibility for her conduct. I understand that the patient has been
informed of the examination and has expressed no concern. […approximately
one line of text removed…] I believe that factors other than the examination influenced the hospital’s reaction to the incident and Dr. Lawrence’s response. […half line of text removed…] there was a significant possibility of adverse and salacious media coverage of the incident. As Dr,. Lawrence indicates in her statement, […word(s) removed…] most people were uncomfortable about her presence. The hospital staff was faced with some logistical challenges. […approximately two lines of text removed…] Several unhappy staff members complained about this decision to hospital administration. After the incident involving Dr. Virginia Renz, Investigator Lawrence’s examination of the patient, the story was soon making its way
around the hospital. It was increasingly likely that the story would breach
the boundaries of the hospital and get into the media. As they discussed this incident with her, the hospital’s administrator
painted the image of responding to phone calls from the Seattle Times reporters
asking for comment on the story. Administration officials discussed with her
the negative impact this kind of publicity would have on her and she was concerned
about the effect such negative news stories could have on her two small children.
[…approximately 1.5 lines of text removed…] She had no intention
of placing her children or her relationship with them in the hot light of the
media. It was Dr. Lawrence’s clear impression that the hospital was telling
her that there could be no assurances that the gossip that was circulating around
the hospital would not be leaked to the press and that, in particular, that
there was no way to prevent the unhappy members of the nursing staff from “breaking
ranks.” […approximately two lines of text removed…] Dr. Lawrence was also told, candidly, that her chance for retaining her privileges
with the Board of Trustees, even if a challenge to any formal peer review action
was successful, was remote. She could see that the combination of the abundance
of anesthesiologists in the market and Swedish’s well guarded sterling
reputation, did not bode well for her challenge. The combination of Dr. Lawrence’s personal remorse about her conduct,
the image of invasive media attention, and a fairly realistic political appraisal
of her position at the hospital was sufficient to convince her not to defend
herself or her privileges. Instead, she chose to accept the summary peer review
action and resign. As I indicated, D. Lawrence has authorized me to request that this matter be
resolved as soon as possible. I have suggested to you that this case be assigned
to a staff attorney and Reviewing Commissioner in the near term with plans to
meet to discuss Commission concerns and reach agreed outcome in the near term.
I appreciate your assistance in this regard. I look forward to talking with
you. Very truly yours, Enc. Statement of Anne Lawrence, M.D.
Notes on documentation These scans are the best available copy from Washington State's Health Professions Quality Assurance Commission. Areas in white appear to be emendations made in the dossier at the request of Anne Lawrence and/or her lawyers. These are indicated by [... bracketed ellipses...] in the transcripts. Areas in gray have been edited by me to protect certain aspects of Dr. Lawrence’s privacy, and are also indicated in the transcripts below. These documents have been transcribed verbatim, including any errors in the originals. Please report any inadvertent transcription errors by contacting me. |
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