Defending Steele

In regards to Dr. Erik Steele’s commentary of July 14, “Capable people in emergency department,” and Dr. John Myers’ response of July 17, I, as a family physician in this area for more than 13 years and having known Dr. Steele the majority of that time, feel compelled to comment. I do not know Dr. Myers nor do I have any inside information regarding the unfortunate events at Penobscot Bay Medical Center in late April that culminated in the death of the woman sent home from the emergency department who died shortly thereafter.

It seems clear that Dr. Myers is not personally nor professionally familiar with Dr. Steele, nor likely has been in contact with him to discuss this commentary. If he had, he likely would not have submitted this letter. His conclusions are drawn from lack of knowledge and, I feel, clearly in error.

Dr. Steele is a high quality physician and individual in every sense of the word. He is a strong advocate for his patients and for all the people of Maine. He is never “condescending” or “insulting” to patients, medical staff or other physicians. He is an astute clinician and observer of life. He is a proponent of “evidence-based medicine” in Maine. He is the first to recognize and admit his limitations and those of his fellow physicians. I am certain he feels that many Mainers of all vocations are as capable and intelligent as the physicians who care for them. I have never seen him to profess “I am the doctor, so of course I’m right.”

I do have to agree with Dr. Myers that the facts in Dr. Steele’s commentary are in fact observations drawn from his experience and may be contested by some. In drawing from my opwn experiences, I would have to agree with all of Dr. Steele’s observations and conclusions. I also would have no qualms with being treated at PBMC.

The last observation by Dr. Myers, citing PBMC’s “review of its own incompetence,” was a distortion and misquotation of Dr. Steele’s commentary. Along with Dr, Steele, it has been my observation that every staff, when faced with similar events, is deeply effected and will “turn their practice inside out to prevent a similar error in the future.” The opinion that PBMC is reviewing its own “incompetence” seems the opinion of Dr. Myers, not Dr. Steele. My suspicion is that this conclusion, as well as Dr. Myers’ opinion of Dr. Steele, is prematurely drawn from insufficient details. The issue of competence of the involved physicians and staff at PBMC should be left to those involved and, if need be, to the court, where all the details can be brought to light and and accurate and just conclusion reached. Christopher M. Buck, M.D. Bangor