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Dr. Gopinath R. Jadhav responded late last week to the Virginia Times’ inquiry that he contact us for his response to a long list of serious allegations we had become aware of regarding his affi liation with Southside Regional Medical Center.

Dr. Jadhav responded by fax Jan. 7 that he would not talk to Virginia Times staff and that he was prepared to fi le a law suit if his character were defamed through any articles the newspaper published regarding to him.

In addition to previous correspondence, Dr. Jadhav was notifi ed in a letter faxed to him Jan. 6 from the Virginia Times of repeated attempts by our staff to contact him to allow him the opportunity to hear the allegations, and thus clarify any misleading information. Dr. Jadhav, on more than one occasion, requested staff to contact him at his offi ce to conduct interviews.

Dr. Jadhav admitted to a staff reporter who questioned him about the fatal fi re in which four patients -- three of whom were African American - died on Dec. 31, 1994, that he was not sure any patients died, buthat they were only injured in the fire. He also said his term on the hospital’s executive committee expired at midnight the night of the fi re. Among some of those allegations are that Dr. Jadhav, a gastroeneterologist, has performed the procedures on thousands of patients. As a newspaper, it is our duty, under the Freedom of Information Act to look into these allegations. The Virginia Times invites Dr. Jadhav to meet with its staff anytime. He is welcome to bring his attorneys with him. He can bring as many attorneys as he wants. We will sit down and meet him at the General Assembly or wherever he wants.

We really want to conduct this interview. Because Dr. Jadhav was appointed to the state board of medicine in 2004 by Gov. Mark Warner, there has been concern why the governor, a man of high ethics, would appoint someone to such an important position, who would refuse to be held accountable to public inquiry. Hopefully, Gov. Warner will look into this situation regarding Dr. Jadhav’s conduct, practice of medicine and ethics, and help us resolve the matter as soon as possible.

For our readers’ information, we have published both documents
(Letter from editor to Dr. Jadhav dated Jan. 6, 2005)

Dr. Jadhav:
We have been trying unsuccessfully for a while, to reach you concerning a list of serious allegations concerning your affi liation with Southside Regional Medical Center, your practice and ethics.

Reporter Michael Forbes and I thought we would be able to talk with you yesterday when we visited the Board of Medicine facility. However, staff there informed us you would be involved in a daylong disciplinary proceeding and would call after you returned to your offi ce around 3 p.m. When I called shortly before 3:30 p.m., I was advised to leave a message and you would return my call today after 3 p.m.

Mr. Forbes called today just before 4 p.m. and again, we were informed you were were not available to answer the phone, and would return the call. We are working on deadline and will go to press early Monday. We’d like ensure the article we print is balanced and accurate, and therefore appreciate your contacting us to provide comment - and, in effect, be given an opportunity to clear up any inaccuracies.

Otherwise, we will proceed with our article and state in it that attempts to reach you for comment were fruitless. I will be in my offi ce by 8:30 a.m., tomorrow, Jan. 7. You are welcome to come by and talk with Mr. Forbes and me, or arrange for us to visit your offi ce. (Letter from Dr. Jadhav dated Jan. 7, 2005)

Dear Editor:
I have received your letter dated January 6, 2005. I have no interest in speaking with you given the ownership of your paper and the lack of objectivity in which I perceive you are approaching any article regarding Southside Regional or my practice.

Please note that I will pursue any defamation action to the fullest extend possible that may arise from any inaccuracy regarding me or my practice.

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