The editors of Foster’s Daily Democrat have an opinion piece in today’s paper that lauds Wentworth-Douglass Hospital for its fine medical care. Perhaps they’ve gotten some flak over their coverage over the breach and allegations of a cover-up. At the end, however, they write:
So it is we admire the progress in medicine and surgery. But we wish the administration at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital had been more forthcoming, more quickly and more openly, when the initial breach in tampering with patient records was discovered. Getting that information out, and over with, would have been a better decision than waiting to have to respond to allegations fired at it by those, including Foster’s Daily Democrat, who sense an attempt at a cover-up. Neither CEO Gregory Walker, nor the WDH board of trustees did either themselves or the hospital any favors by hunkering down in the shadows of the claims made by Drs. Cheryl Moore and Glenn Littell of Piscataqua Pathology Associates and subsequent supporters of the two. Getting out front and doing so quickly might have accomplished a great deal for the hospital and the people who rely on it.
Sometimes, what is “legal” is not ethical.
A strong defense may win football games, but community relations are best served by a good offense.