Memorial University Medicine throws students under the bus for complaining against Kuehner
Seven medical students who complained against Zachary Kuehner and made a “call to action for [the Undergraduate Medical Education and Postgraduate Medical Education offices] to address [his] abhorrent behaviour” are now being threatened with sanctions from Memorial University’s medical school up to and including expulsion. This according to an inside source I spoke to on condition of anonymity. See my previous article on Dr. Zachary Kuehner, MD, for more details on why this is a big deal.
Sign an open letter to Dean Dr. Margaret Steele supporting the students and demanding their safety.
The source
The whistleblowing insider spoke on condition of anonymity. This person is familiar with the case and internal workings of the medical school administration, and risks exposing themselves professionally and personally by sharing this information.
The source reports two facts:
- There is a formal complaint accusing the students of harassment. This complaint was filed by Zach and supported by the medical school administration, who contend that the students broke protocol by writing their letter of complaint. Sanctions for this complaint may include expulsion.
- Neither the student letter of complaint nor the other two letters of complaint brought forward by National Council of Canadian Muslims and Canadian Women in Medicine were registered as “formal complaints” against Zach.
Analysis
The Memorial University Faculty of Medicine, under the direction of its Dean Dr. Margaret Steele, is railroading the seven student whistleblowers who complained against Zach.
The medical school did not launch a formal investigation based on the letters of complaint from the medical students, National Council of Canadian Muslims, and Canadian Women in Medicine, ostensibly because these groups — as Dean Dr. Margaret Steele was quoted as saying — “did not file a proper complaint with their letter[s].” This statement appears to be part of a decision to use an impenetrable process as a pretext for ignoring legitimate complaints about a doctor with concerning behaviour.
In Dr. Steele’s letter of response to Canadian Women in Medicine, she stated that “regarding the issue raised this week with respect to one of our learners, the Faculty of Medicine is dealing with this issue in accordance to its policies and procedures.”
I contacted Dr. Michelle Cohen, advocacy chair for Canadian Women in Medicine. She denies receiving any report or feedback resulting from their complaint letter. Dr. Cohen was unaware that her organization’s letter was not considered a “formal complaint”, and I agree with her that it was reasonable to assume based on the letter of response that it had triggered a formal process. Representatives from National Council of Canadian Muslims and Addressing Islamophobia in Newfoundland and Labrador were also surprised that their joint letter was not considered a “formal complaint”.
Memorial University presumably used the same logic to dismiss the medical students’ complaint against Zach. This decision left the students open for retaliation by Zach for their whistleblowing.
Act now to support the students
This leak from a medical school insider is alarming and distressing if true. Memorial University’s medical school must respond to this leak quickly to provide assurances that:
- The students are not under investigation;
- There is no formal or informal active or pending complaint against them for taking action against Zach; and
- The Faculty of Medicine supports in deeds as well as words these courageous students who complained against a person they saw as undermining the profession.
Sign an open letter to the Dean
These brave medical students need our help. As of today, you can sign an open letter to Dean Dr. Margaret Steele supporting the students and demanding their safety. The letter itself can also be found separately.
Donate to the students’ legal defence fund
Funds will be required to ensure the students are well-supported and equipped to defend themselves both in the medical school complaint process and if they are sued by Zach in civil court.
The National Council for Canadian Muslims has agreed to collect and manage the fund. Watch here and on social media for a direct link on how to donate.
Caveats: I did not see original documents from the whistleblower out of concern of compromising the official process or giving the school or Zach a pretext for appeal. I did not contact the medical students to corroborate this information, as I did not want to put them in a position to possibly breach confidentiality agreements they may have with the school.
