The suspended Chief Medical Officer of the LBJ Hospital, Dr. Joseph Shumway, left the island last Wednesday night and says his return to the territory is dependent on the Board of Directors of the LBJ Hospital.
“Yes, I flew out Wednesday night,” he responded via email to questions from KHJ News. He said there were some “personal security issues” at his residence and leaving the island to await the board’s decision was his best option.
Dr. Shumway was suspended last Tuesday over statements he made to KHJ News alleging that the recent measles outbreak was fake and was an effort to obtain federal funding, an allegation that has been denied by the Department of Health.
The CMO said he has a return ticket for later this month but his return depends on the Board of Directors.
According to Dr. Shumway, the Board was offered “an apology to facilitate reconciliation”…they just continue to follow the Chairman of the Board. “That is not in the best interests of the hospital or of the people of American Samoa,” he said.
Dr. Shumway shared an email he sent to the LDS missionary doctors and their wives explaining why he left.
“I dispute my suspension, but I do understand that there can be a variety of opinions in this matter. Given the lack of communication from the Board before my suspension and their continued silence after the suspension, I do not know whether I will be returning to Samoa or not.”
He said he was expecting to hear something from the LBJ Board on Wednesday, “But in the absence of any promises follow up from them, I think it will take some time to let matters cool down. The drama and chaos within the Board will need to settle before rational decision making will return.”
Dr. Shumway said, “As there is no point in my waiting for this in my lonely apartment, I was successful getting on a plane to Salt Lake on Wednesday night.” He said he will use the time away for a family reunion.
“I have worked very hard and for many hours. I’m sure that I could’ve done better in some ways but I simply offer what I have done. I hope my efforts are acceptable to God.”
Dr. Shumway pointed out that he did offer to apologize to the Board in an effort to repair a fractured relationship. “I have sought reconciliation with them via Dr. Ledua,” he said. “There is a lot of positive engagement with Dr. Ledua to facilitate reconciliation but the Board seems to be facing in an entirely different direction.”
