Dr. Charm

Do I feel vindicated by the high publicity being given to this story (below)? Somewhat. What I think is especially important is the bit at the end of the article. My belief is that if someone displays enough arrogance and lack of social/personal sensitivity to make remarks like this in his professional capacity, that might suggest deficiencies of other aspects of character. Not that remarks like this are nothing...just that they are sometimes only the tip of an extremely ugly iceberg.

(excerpts from)
N.H. Doctor in Hot Seat Again Over Remarks
By J.M. HIRSCH, Associated Press Writer
August 30, 2005

CONCORD, N.H. - The state is investigating a doctor accused of telling a patient she was so obese she might only be attractive to black men and advising another to shoot herself following brain surgery.

"Let's face it, if your husband were to die tomorrow, who would want you?" the state Board of Medicine says Dr. Terry Bennett told the overweight patient in June 2004.

"Well, men might want you, but not the types you want to want you. Might even be a black guy," it quoted him as saying, based on the woman's complaint.

According to the AP story, the Good Doctor had this to say (an interesting defense strategy):

"That patient is currently in a nursing home completely demented, tied to a chair drooling on herself and doesn't recognize anybody," said Bennett, 67. "She was in pretty nearly that condition at the time she filed that complaint."

....

Bennett previously was cited by the board in 1995 when, as part of a settlement to avoid discipline, he admitted lying on his 1992 and 1993 medical license renewal applications about being denied hospital privileges. He was fined $1,000.