Publisher - Sri Foundation

Online Edition

PETERSBURG - According to sources, the doctors who were allegedly involved in the sexual harassment scandal at Southside Regional Medical Center were confronted on several occasions.

A letter that was sent to former Petersburg City Councilman Joe East, revealed that there was a very serious sexual harassment scandal within the surgical operating suite, which involved Chiefof- Staff Tom Ross, administrator David Dunham, and the hospital’s attorney, Sam Johnson. "I met with David Dunham and the other staff members on several occasions concerning the complaints of their practice and inappropriate activity," said one source who declined to be identified. "His response was that it wasn’t for me to know about this."

The source went on to say that two letters highlighting the unethical activities were sent to the administration, but there was no response.

According to the source, there were various complaints of poor care, fraud, patient deaths, and Peer Review corruption. The source said none of the issues were even outlined in to the minutes of the Hospital Authority’s meeting.

Reports also stated that Mr. Dunham, who is no longer employed at the hospital, was made aware of several pieces of evidence pertaining to the sexual harassment scandal, poor patient care, fraud involving the Peer Review (using it for malicious intent to suppress the voices of honest and ethical physicians) and corruption by the wrongdoing of physicians. There was also persecution of other physicians using the Peer Review beyond the boundaries of ethics and principles of that board. Additionally, the Peer Review was used between the "hunted and haunted" like on an African savanna. "Nothing was ever done to resolve this matter," said the source.

"But this is a very serious and dangerous issue." Stone Wall Odom, a long time patient at Southside Regional Medical Center, also expressed his concerns on the matter. "I’ve been deeply concerned about the recent allegations involving strippers," said Mr. Odom. "I had even asked the attorney general to investigate this matter, but I received no response."

Mr. Odom, a candidate for Petersburg sheriff, says the issue brings a downfall on the hospital’s health care, and raises serious moral concerns.

"It’s serious, because we have to trust that our wives, kids, and so forth are safe in the hands of these medical officials." Mr. Odom, a former member of the social justice group, the Concerned Citizens of Petersburg, says he’s been very active in trying to resolve the problem within the hospital.

"The city has prosecuted many other crime offenders in the past, and that’s good," Mr. Odom stated. "But white collar crimes such as this need to be brought forth and resolved."

‘No rules and regulations’ alleged at John Randolph
A former John Randolph Medical Center insider claims there are no bylaws, rules, or regulations in place when patient care is compromised at the 271-bed Hopewell hospital

SRMC physician: ‘There’s a mechanism of truth’
A Southside Regional Medical Center physician has joined the bandwagon of disillusioned former patients, doctors and nurses who have been pointing fingers at the hospital in

Physician’s license suspended;which others will follow?
The plight of a Newport News physician whose license was suspended by emergency order after the death of a chronically pain patient, is just one more look into how medical

Source: Patient care at JRMC lacked $5 face mask
According to a source, a couple months ago, two employees at John Randolph Medical Center brought up a situation involving a code that happened in the radiology suite

SRMC ad draws critcism
Sources say that shortly after Southside Regional Medical Center Chief Operating Office David Fikse placed advertisements denouncing articles published in the Virginia Times

JRMC upset over articles, another patient accuses Jadhav

Letters to the Editor
This is a copy of a letter written last week to Dr. William Harp, executive director of the Virginia Board of Medicine. The writer faxed it to the Times for use on the editorial pages

Local woman blasts physicians
When Petersburg resident Patricia Fitzgerald was recommended in 1996 by her primary care physician Dr. Mark Ende to Dr. J. Rayudu for a gall bladder removal, she never

Deaths, fraud, physicians’ negligence at SRMC true

Victory eludes Petersburg woman embroiled in malpractice, breach of contract suits

Allegations: ‘Hofheimer botched,covered up SRMC investigations’
According to a source, an investigation launched in 2001 to look into Southside Regional Medical Center’s certifi cation and to get offi cials to correct several instances of

Board of Medicine to investigate Jadhav

From the publisher
Gov. Mark R. Warner’s press secretary has told the Virginia Times that in response the newspaper’s inquiries concerning the appointment last year of Dr. Gopinath Jadhav by

Former SRMC employee claims she was forced out of her job for speaking out

Local citizens express frustration over lack of attention at hospital

No word from Warner on medical board appointee
It’s no coincidence that four people allegedly involved in a scandal surrounding the same hospital were appointed to various state boards by Gov. Mark R. Warner. Virginia, it

SRMC internist settles out of court
The Virginia Times learned early Monday that one of the doctors involved in alleged scandals at Southside Regional Medical Center, has settled out of court with the family of

HIPAA violations at SRMC
Family members of an elderly woman, whom they claim was provided such bad care while a patient at Southside Regional Medical Center, say that after the patient transferred to a

Replacement facility may target the elderly
The way may have been paved for construction of a replacement hospital in Petersburg, but that doesn’t hush the growl of residents who live in close proximity of the current

Woman: ‘They kept saying nothing was wrong with me’
PETERSBURG – Ramona Johnson gets the chills anytime someone mentions Southside Regional Medical Center.  That’s because of the frightening ordeals she says she

Incidences of substandard care leveled at hospital
Additional people have come forward with allegations challenging the level of care patients have been receiving at Southside Regional Medical Center since it became

Blatant peer review fraud involving SRMC
After recent allegations of misconduct surfacing around Dr. Akshay Dave, MD, a local physician, several attempts have been made by Virginia Times staff to contact the doctor,

Silent phone calls target local doctor’s office

Minority physicians at SRMC claim they’re more often taken to task
Quality Assurance reports have been at the center of contention between minority and non-minority doctors for years at Southside Regional Medical Center, according to a

Dance: ‘Concerns involving SRMC were brought to my attention’
Petersburg-Former Petersburg Mayor Rosalyn Dance said she was given first hand knowledge of plans to sell Southside Regional Medical Center. And for the most part,

Times may be target of corporate sabotage
CHESTER - Local Richmond television stations fl ocked to the Virginia Times news room on Friday after the chair of the foundation which pubishes the newspaper called a press

Claims of malfaeasance continue to plague attorney general's office

McKenney woman:‘SRMC would have let me die’
A McKenney woman has come forward on behalf of herself and several other people who allege they were victimized at some time or another by doctors and administrators at

Height of ‘peer review corruption’ at hospital

Hospital reneges on indigent care among ongoing allegations

‘Hush, hush, hush’ continues at SRMC
Another victim has stepped forwardin the ongoing saga of documented and alledged sex scandals pointed atSouthside Regional Medical Center

SRMC remains shrouded in mystery
PETERSBURG - The 1994 fi re at Southside Regional Medical Center, which killed four patients sparked heavy concern that indigent care may have played a factor

Events leading to fatal hospital fire still unclear
It's been more than10 yearssince a fire killed four patients at Southside Regional MedicalCenter