"There is nothing to fear when you are doing the right thing." I wish I could say that. I just learned that Dr. David Williams was fired:
In this Star-Advertiser article, it states that
"On Tuesday one of Maui Memorial’s emergency room doctors, David Williams, was fired. Williams declined to comment on his termination."
and "The Star-Advertiser was subsequently contacted by renowned crisis manager Michael Sitrick, who said he was handling Emergent Medical Associates’ media inquiries. Sitrick is known for representing high-level celebrities, such as Harvey Weinstein as he battled sexual assault allegations, and powerful corporations, including Exxon during the Valdez oil spill and Enron during its accounting and fraud scandal."
So they have hired a big PR firm to spin this.
A comment states that: "Modern day corporate contracts for most employed doctors now prevent them from talking to their medical staff or public, or they get hit with big lawsuits , the so called "no media clause" "gag clause" or "non interference clause" which is actually a big hindrance to being able to fulfill the physicians' duties under the Hippocratic Oath. By requiring modern day corporate employed physicians to sign these things in their contract, the corporation ties their hands from fully serving their duty for patient care and doing no harm. These clauses in their contracts prevent them from fully practicing medicine and taking care of their patients making sure no patient harm is done by the systems in place. PERIOD. If Dr. David Williams is the face of cowardice, imagine what our brave community is going to look like once we are all activated to these truths. Not a PR firm version of the truth."
In a huddle today at MMMC, it was reported that a nurse told everyone "you all signed a code of conduct policy when you started to work for this company and that means you shouldn't be posting negative stuff on social media. You are setting yourselves up to get fired by sharing or signing that petition." The ED assistant manager told him "that's a good point. Thank you for saying that. You're so right."
And he is right. Hawaii is at "at will" state so that means your employer can fire your for no reason at all. Seek out help with your union if you are being threatened and harassed, but also be strategic.
But here's the thing, I call on you get 10-100 people in your church, your clubs, your sports and your neighborhoods in the next two weeks to sign on to this petition. Also have them call our Mayor and City Council so that what I write in my petition can be confirmed from many sides. I have heard from our politicians (many have been called by the community and they know what is going on) and they have asked what they can do to help. I have told them that for now, we don't need politics involved. We need the community educated and we need them speaking up for us. We need our community to commit to creating and fighting for the best hospital and healthcare system that we in Maui deserve. We need that LONG-TERM community commitment. I have churches and some pastors who are ready. Get yours and yours and yours to speak for you when you can't speak because of these corporate rules. Speak to them from your heart in private and have your communities show up for you. So yes, protect your financial and economic security because that is their stranglehold on you for the time-being, but multiply yourselves by 100 each and get your communities to speak for you.
This is about community building. We start there always. And we will win with love and compassion leading the way.