MONROE - The Monroe Clinic says a popular doctor's sudden departure recently was his choosing, not theirs.
Dr. James Turek, an obstetrician/gynecologist at the Clinic since 1995, has a different take on the matter.
According to a written statement from the Clinic, "on Jan. 29, Monroe Clinic informed Dr. Turek that his services would no longer be needed after April 24. Dr. Turek informed Monroe Clinic that he would instead take the option to no longer provide services beginning Feb. 2."
Turek's last day seeing patients was Friday, Jan. 30. By Saturday, Jan. 31, word of Turek's dismissal started to spread, with readers submitting the first of dozens of comments online at the Monroe Times' Web site. In the days that followed, many posters rallied to support Turek and criticize the Clinic for letting him go, as well as not informing patients.
The Clinic says it didn't have time to inform patients.
"Given the circumstances, we can understand Dr. Turek's decision to stop seeing patients almost immediately. However, because of this decision, we had little time to communicate to patients that Dr. Turek would be leaving. We have done our best to contact patients and coordinate arrangements with our other physicians in these last few days," the Clinic's written statement said.
The Clinic said last week that it was preparing a letter to inform Turek's patients of his departure, and had begun calling patients who had appointments scheduled.
An initial written statement from the Clinic, issued Feb. 2, said Turek would no longer be affiliated with Monroe Clinic effective Feb. 11. A second statement, issued Feb. 3 in response to questions about Turek posed by The Monroe Times, said his end date was Feb. 2. The Clinic's only comment on the discrepancy between the Feb. 11 and Feb. 2 dates was that the second statement was a correction to the first statement.
The Clinic will not comment on the reason Turek was let go, saying employee matters are confidential.
Turek said it was a complete surprise to him when Clinic CEO Mike Sanders told him Thursday, Jan. 29, that he was being let go, and he still doesn't know the reason why. He was never disciplined or accused of any misconduct, Turek said.
Sanders told him he could stay on at the Clinic until April 29, or just be done and be paid through the April date, Turek said.
Turek said he understood that to be a severance package and decided to leave. "If somebody walks into your office and says you're done, what would you do?" he asked.
"I thought, I'm going to go home and start looking for a job," he said. Turek said he is currently looking at options on where to continue his practice.
Meanwhile, Turek's dismissal has continued to create a firestorm of comments online, the vast majority in support of Turek. Many women have credited him with helping them through difficult pregnancies, and in some cases even saving their lives. Many others have also complimented him on his dedication and caring for his patients.
Some have even started a Support Dr. Turek group on the social networking Web site Facebook.com. As of Monday night, the group had 189 members.
Turek said he has been "very flattered" by all the support.
"I'm humbled," he said.
Dr. James Turek, an obstetrician/gynecologist at the Clinic since 1995, has a different take on the matter.
According to a written statement from the Clinic, "on Jan. 29, Monroe Clinic informed Dr. Turek that his services would no longer be needed after April 24. Dr. Turek informed Monroe Clinic that he would instead take the option to no longer provide services beginning Feb. 2."
Turek's last day seeing patients was Friday, Jan. 30. By Saturday, Jan. 31, word of Turek's dismissal started to spread, with readers submitting the first of dozens of comments online at the Monroe Times' Web site. In the days that followed, many posters rallied to support Turek and criticize the Clinic for letting him go, as well as not informing patients.
The Clinic says it didn't have time to inform patients.
"Given the circumstances, we can understand Dr. Turek's decision to stop seeing patients almost immediately. However, because of this decision, we had little time to communicate to patients that Dr. Turek would be leaving. We have done our best to contact patients and coordinate arrangements with our other physicians in these last few days," the Clinic's written statement said.
The Clinic said last week that it was preparing a letter to inform Turek's patients of his departure, and had begun calling patients who had appointments scheduled.
An initial written statement from the Clinic, issued Feb. 2, said Turek would no longer be affiliated with Monroe Clinic effective Feb. 11. A second statement, issued Feb. 3 in response to questions about Turek posed by The Monroe Times, said his end date was Feb. 2. The Clinic's only comment on the discrepancy between the Feb. 11 and Feb. 2 dates was that the second statement was a correction to the first statement.
The Clinic will not comment on the reason Turek was let go, saying employee matters are confidential.
Turek said it was a complete surprise to him when Clinic CEO Mike Sanders told him Thursday, Jan. 29, that he was being let go, and he still doesn't know the reason why. He was never disciplined or accused of any misconduct, Turek said.
Sanders told him he could stay on at the Clinic until April 29, or just be done and be paid through the April date, Turek said.
Turek said he understood that to be a severance package and decided to leave. "If somebody walks into your office and says you're done, what would you do?" he asked.
"I thought, I'm going to go home and start looking for a job," he said. Turek said he is currently looking at options on where to continue his practice.
Meanwhile, Turek's dismissal has continued to create a firestorm of comments online, the vast majority in support of Turek. Many women have credited him with helping them through difficult pregnancies, and in some cases even saving their lives. Many others have also complimented him on his dedication and caring for his patients.
Some have even started a Support Dr. Turek group on the social networking Web site Facebook.com. As of Monday night, the group had 189 members.
Turek said he has been "very flattered" by all the support.
"I'm humbled," he said.