Reasons behind rare termination of St. Anthony doctor remain a mystery - Action News
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Reasons behind rare termination of St. Anthony doctor remain a mystery

A medical doctor based in St. Anthony for the past 11 years has been dismissed without cause by the health authority that employed him, and the mystery remains about why such a rare and drastic action was taken.

Medical association says Labrador-Grenfell Health followed protocols in termination of Dr. Alexis Caro-Guzman

Labrador-Grenfell Health confirmed Wednesday that family physician Dr. Alexis Caro-Guzman is no longer working at Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital in St. Anthony. (Facebook)

A medical doctor based in St. Anthony for the past 11 years has been dismissed without cause by the health authority that employed him, and the mystery remains about why such a rare and drastic action was taken.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association represents doctors in the province, and its executive director acknowledged Friday that it has not received an explanation.

"They're staying very quiet about the circumstances," NLMA executive director Robert Thompson told CBC News, referring to Labrador-Grenfell Health.

Robert Thompson is executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association. (Jeremy Eaton/CBC)

Dr. Alexis Caro-Guzmanworked as a salaried physician in St. Anthony since June 2006.

His contract was terminated this week, with neither the health authority nor Dr. Caro-Guzmanoffering any explanation.

The only clue came from Caro-Guzman, who admitted during an interview that he's been outspoken during his time in St. Anthony.

The health authority defended its silence by sayingit is respecting the privacy of its former employee, while Caro-Guzmanhas said he wanted to seek legal help before revealing details of his admittedly testy relationship with Labrador-Grenfell.

CBC News spoke briefly with Caro-Guzman on Friday, but he was travelling and declined an interview.

Health authority CEO TonyWakehamhas not responded to a request for an interview.

Meanwhile, Robert Thompson said the health authority has every right to terminate Caro-Guzman's contract, and it appears it followed the established protocols in doing so.

But Thompson said he can't remember such a scenario occurring in the past.

"The provision is there for a circumstance like this to occur, but it is a rare situation," he said.