People often trust physicians and others in the medical community to do the right thing. Patients expect that their doctors are ethical, and that they work hard to keep their patients healthy. One Illinois physician was concerned about doctor errors made within her department, but after voicing her concerns claims she was fired.

The doctor previously worked as a senior attending physician in the pathology Department at Stroger Hospital in Chicago. She voiced concerns about wrongdoings within the pathology department, and claims she was then harassed.

In 2003, she went to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and filed a charge of discrimination for the harassment. In the complaint she also claimed that she was paid less because of her Puerto Rican decent and for being a woman. Just three months later she was suspended, and in 2004, was fired from her position.

The woman went on to file a federal lawsuit for racial and gender discrimination against Cook County and the hospital's chairman of pathology. Recently, a jury found the woman's claims to be true.

The county is being asked to pay the former physician $4 million for pain and suffering, and an additional $3.2 million for lost wages. Additionally, the chairman of the pathology department is being asked to pay her $400,000.

In this case, the physician thought she was doing the right thing by pointing out errors made within the pathology department, but by speaking out she found herself without a job.

Doctor's errors can have a huge affect on a patient's life. In some cases, those errors can be the difference between life and death. While this doctor was originally punished for voicing her concerns, many patients would likely appreciate her honesty and integrity. Perhaps more physicians like her would reduce the number of errors made by doctors and hospitals.

Source: Chicago Tribune, "Cook County told to pay $7.6 million in hospital retaliation lawsuit," Erika Slife, Dec. 14, 2011