DATE

EVENT DETAILS

EVIDENCES

COMMENTS

7/01/97

Started as the Chief Resident in fourth and final year of training in Neurology at the Neuroscience Institute of JFK Medical Center, Edison, New Jersey.

1)   Signed one year residency contract

2)   Reference

7/97-2/98

I was discriminated and faced hostile work conditions. Despite all, I successfully performed all duties with above average to superior evaluations.

3)   Evaluations

4)   References

Various evidences of discrimination include 1) reduced power and privileges compared to previous Chief Resident 2) Inadequate training with denying important (as well as mandatory ) 'bread and butter' rotations.  With each accomplishment, I found myself running in to more and more daily hostilities at times evidenced by interoffice email communications.

3/4/98

Placed on probation despite my above average ongoing performance depicted by evaluations. Despite my repeated requests, I did not get due process - grievances for probation as mandatory per my contract. My February month’s evaluation was changed after it was signed to support the wrongful probation. Reasons on the probation were also manufactured as explained in my written reply.

5) Changed evaluation

6) Probation letter

7) Response

8) Due process

My one last chance of obtaining an adequate training was stripped off by manufactured probation. Malicious intentions being -   

1) A foul up in clinical,academic or administrative duties that would actually create a background for a potential disciplinary action

2) To create circumstances that could lead to poor performance in the annual training exam

3) Substantially compromised rotations of EEG and EMG, the bread and butter of Neurology practice.

4/02/98

Probation was extended one more month despite satisfactory evaluation

9)    Extending Probation

10) March evaluation

Routine academic practice of taking off the probation or any disciplinary action after a satisfactory performance was also ignored here. I was not extended due process for this probation either.

4^th week of April 1998

I was presented with the scholarship at the annual meeting of American Academy of Neurology at a luncheon

11) Scholarship certificate

I was one of the 10-15 final year residents selected from all the programs in the country.

5/04/98

I was given the termination letter and was told to vacant my office by 5 PM.

12) Termination letter

I was not given a chance to due process, which is expressly mandated by the contract prior to termination.

2^nd week of May 1998

I gave the final part of medical licensing exam - USMLE Step 3 for which I had applied in January 1998, with the program’s knowledge

This exam at the time had become extremely important, as once passed, I would get a medical license and be able to practice medicine, work in ER among other places. That would have enabled me to generate financial resources not only for comfortable living but also for filing a lawsuit against the hospital.

3^rd week of May 1998

I caught my landlord breaking in my condo on an audiotape with a companion. The conversation on the tape includes “Check on the desk”, “Check over the top” among other things.

13) Audio tapes - 2

I had warned my landlord (obtained with the help of the program / institute in the beginning of training) numerous times in the preceding three weeks about someone entering my condo in my absence. He denied any knowledge and involvement on a conversation also recorded on tape with his permission.  After I recognized his voice on the tape, I called the police who did not take any action.

4^th week of May 1998

At the end of May 1998, I received my annual residency training exam results (RITE) and was shocked to see that my scores were drastically reduced. I asked the exam conducting American Academy of Neurology for an investigation to this matter and it revealed that manufactured answer sheets were used to score my test. The Academy of Neurology insisted that they had received these manufactured answer sheets from my program in New Jersey

14) False RITE result and score

15) Manufactured answer sheets

16) Communication with American Academy of Neurology

I was concerned about the security of my answer sheets and integrity of my scores prior to the exam. I requested the academy to allow me to copy my answer sheets upon completion of exams and I was denied.  Strangely enough, my result came about 4-5 weeks late, not to mention about 4 weeks after my termination.

RITE exam is a good parameter of the candidate’s passing the Boards and therefore my scores were drastically reduced in order to reduce the liability.

1^st week July 1998

My final step of Medical Licensing exam (USMLE Step 3) result was due in the mail. Despite changing the address, it was delivered in my P O Box at a nearby post office.  Very soon after opening the envelope I noticed a number of peculiarities.  Not long after I found out that it was a fraudulent document in that envelop indicating that I failed the test.

17) Fraudulent USMLE step 3 result

18) The envelope

There were multiple reasons to clearly define the fraud - 1) The font used on the sheet 2) My name appeared differently 3) Other small details of the document differs from my previous original scores 4) There were no accompanying applications for the next coming exams as is the routine when a candidate fails.

I could not pursue for the real score in the absence of an attorney, as I did not want the repetition of what happened with my RITE scores. 

July-Dec. 1998

I moved on to north New Jersey and intensely looked for an employment attorney in New Jersey, New York and even Pennsylvania.  Modes of contact included phone calls, faxes and emails. Very few consultations though.  No success in finding a representation and that is despite admitting the validity and legitimacy of the case by some attorneys.  I must have contacted more than 100 prominent employment attorneys.

My notes of correspondence with all attorneys and their listing - available when needed

The replies from these attorneys and law firms were almost identical -

1) Denied to take case on contingency

2) A larger number gave no reason

3) Some said they are too busy.

 It started to feel like a deja vu everyday In the mean time, my computer hard drive had to be replaced due to stealth virus. I started to be concerned about my security and safety. When my unemployment money ended prematurely, I left New Jersey and came to LA, as I was familiar with LA area.

Dec 1998 - May 1999

Worked as a medical assistant and insurance biller in an allergy clinic in Norwalk, California. I knew the owner and physician from the past. I continued to look for an attorney in LA area. Also contacted IMG (International medical graduates) section of AMA (American Medical Association), ACLU, AAPI (American Association of Physicians of Indian origin), Resident Physician Union of southern California, few Indian American Physicians, FIA (Federation of Indian American)

Correspondence with the organizations available when needed.

To work as a medical assistant in the clinic was demoralizing and I made barely enough money to survive.  A few attorneys, who showed interest initially, quickly reversed their position and denied the case. None of the organizations I contacted offered any help including AAPI at that time.

July 1999- Today

Continued to look for attorneys without success. Periods of unemployment, in between trivial jobs, out of my field followed. Not to mention periods of homelessness and sleeping in the car for months.

Correspondence with the hospital included a demand letter by an attorney 

There seemed to be a pattern of response from the LA area attorneys I contacted. Most of them did not want to take the case on contingency

 Several attempts made to communicate with the hospital regarding ongoing breach of privacy as well as Medical License Fraud during this period.

Successful in obtaining support from most prominent Indian American Physicians' organization (AAPI).

A California Indian Newspaper covered the story in an article.

19) AAPI letter to Dr Gizzi - 1 page

22) Newspaper article - 1 page

The letter from AAPI was ignored by the employer.