[Histonet] a question on ethics

Fri Aug 13 07:40:53 CDT 2004

Yes,  Do run Ron run

Dr Terry L Marshall, B.A.(Law), M.B.,Ch.B.,F.R.C.Path
 Consultant Pathologist
 Rotherham General Hospital
 South Yorkshire
 England
        terry.marshall <@t> rothgen.nhs.uk

-----Original Message-----
From: Jackie.O'Connor <@t> abbott.com [mailto:Jackie.O'Connor <@t> abbott.com]
Sent: 13 August 2004 13:32
To: Ron Martin
Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] a question on ethics

Run Ron Run.

"Ron Martin" <pathrm35 <@t> adelphia.net>
Sent by: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
08/13/2004 04:27 AM

        To:     <histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
        cc: 
        Subject:        [Histonet] a question on ethics

Fellow techs,
I am in a difficult situation and need some serious advice. I recently (4 
months ago) accepted a technical supervisor position in a dermatology lab. 
I went from a bench tech at my old job to this position. I also walked 
away from a raise at my old position so I could step into a supervision 
position. I took the new position because I was told by my manager that 
she would teach me some supervision, management and financial skills that 
I currently do not have as well as the growth potential of the 
company.This position is not what I was told it would be. Part of my 
"duties" include emptying the trash, clean the bathroom  (not happening) 
and taking her personal and professional calls. The question on ethics is 
the high volume of mistakes made by our technician, our offices and also 
by my manager herself.
I caught a mistake made by our tech a few weeks ago.She put the wrong 
tissue on the wrong slides as she inverted the two cases. I caught her 
mistake before it went out. One time she assigned the same number to two 
different cases. She then sent the correct case out for a consult (which 
wasn't needed) and put the wrong patient name on the slide. Every other 
day there is something different.My manager will not terminate her as she 
knows I am seeking employment elsewhere and she cannot afford to lose a 
tech.
One day my manager gave three cases the same accession number.She caught 
her mistake on one of the cases but I still ended up with two cases with 
the same number. When I first started there my manager had a case in which 
there " was no tissue in the container". She said that she notified the 
office about the situation however up to six weeks later the office was 
still calling looking for results.At that point she wrote up an incident 
report and dated it six weeks prior to coincide with the surgery date.
Our offices are not any better. One case came in with the wrong patient 
information. It took about 7 weeks for the office to realize that they 
sent the wrong patient information with the biopsy as the names were close 
in spelling.  The offices continually send mistakes with incorrect 
spelling of patients names and incorrect anatomical locations.
 I have tired to document everything but there are too many mistakes and I 
don't have enough time or energy to keep up with them.My manager wants us 
to do our own "internal quality control". My interpretation of this is 
that she doesn't want our physician and risk manager to know of these 
mistakes. Are these becoming common problems or is it just my situation?
I want to emphasize that I hope I am not being unethical myself for 
revealing this information but I really need some advice and support.I 
have very high standards and they are not being met in this current 
situation. I am currently seeking a new position but I need employment and 
cannot resign until another position becomes available. I would like to 
stay in Florida and if anyone knows of any positions please inform me as I 
am at my wits end. Thanks in advance.

Ron 
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