Misty Blanchette Porter, MD, a former OB-GYN at Lebanon, N.H.-based Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and professor at Hanover, N.H.-based Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, filed a complaint against the hospital Oct. 11 alleging officials fired her because she took an extended leave from the hospital and for her whistle-blowing actions, according to The Dartmouth.
Dr. Blanchette Porter said in the lawsuit filed with the U.S. District Court of Vermont she lost her job at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center after the facility closed its reproductive endocrinology and infertility program in June. She claims officials fired her, in part, because she took disability leave after an injury in November 2015. Ms. Porter had been employed at the hospital for roughly 20 years.
"After Dr. Blanchette Porter's employment was terminated, the Dartmouth-Hitchcock administration told members of the staff that the decision to terminate her employment was motivated by the fact that she had been out of work for an extended period and was only able to work part-time," according to the complaint obtained by The Dartmouth.
The lawsuit stated the hospital "harassed, abused, intimidated, discharged, threatened and otherwise discriminated against" Dr. Blanchette Porter after she informed hospital management several times of what she considered to be questionable medical practices by hospital employees at the facility, the report states. Dr. Blanchette Porter claimed Dartmouth-Hitchcock's actions are a direct violation of the New Hampshire Whistleblowers' Protection Act, which was designed to protect whistle-blowers who come forward.
Dr. Blanchette Porter seeks damages "in an amount to be determined at trial" for wrongful discharge, violation of the New Hampshire Whistleblowers' Protection Act and disability discrimination and retaliation, The Dartmouth reports. She also seeks reinstatement as a hospital employee with no loss in seniority or benefits.
Lawyers on behalf of Dartmouth-Hitchcock declined to comment to The Dartmouth on the pending litigation. The Dartmouth could not reach an attorney for Dr. Blanchette Porter.
A spokesperson for the hospital told The Dartmouth, "The decision [to close the REI program] was not made lightly, because D-H is deeply committed to women's health, and we appreciate the impact of this decision on our patients and their caregivers."
"However, delivering the highest quality healthcare to our patients is paramount, whether here at DHMC or elsewhere, and our inability to support the specialized clinical resources required for such a program led to the conclusion that continuation of the program was not in our patients' best interests," the spokesperson continued.