“Name that Year” is designed to put your knowledge of Tracy and its newsmakers of the past to the test. Each week, we will publish a news item that ran in a past edition — maybe it was a major event, or a story about a Tracy resident — it’s up to you to determine in what year that particular news item hit the pages of the paper:
• DR. NORMAN J. LEE, WHO HAS LIVED AND OPERATED A MEDICAL PRACTICE IN TRACY FOR 24 YEARS, issued his formal resignation from the hospital and clinic staff effective June 1 of this year, and it was accepted at a special meeting of the Tracy Hospital Board.
Lee’s resignation and board acceptance of the resignation was followed by a recommendation to the board from Brian Murphy, attorney representing Dr. Wlifredo Apostol, Dr. Guerminsindo Alvero, Dr. Rolando Bueno and Dr. M. Kelthahn other members of the hospital medical staff. In the letter signed by all four doctors, a recommendation was made regarding the “adverse recommendation” formally given to Dr. Lee on March 11, which called for a special ad hoc committee of the hospital medical staff to review the alleged charges.
The letter stated, “in regards to the adverse recommendation and the ad hoc meeting set for June 3, it is in the best interests of all parties and the community of Tracy that all charges against Dr. Norman Lee be dismissed.”
Without further discussion, the board adjourned the meeting. Following adjournment, one of the 20 other persons present opened questions about this action, all which of were questions directed to the board, Jim Kerr, hospital board attorney, and Brian Murphy, Marshall attorney.
A concern was expressed as to the board’s plans on the obtaining a new physician to fill Lee’s vacancy on the staff. The board noted that a doctor procurement committee was working actively two years ago, but hadn’t been making contacts recently. Anyone interested in working on this committee would be welcomed.
A background of “peer reviewal” of medical records was clarified by Kerr and hospital administrator Omer Elschens. They noted that under federal law adopted In July 1965 all licensed hospitals must conduct a monthly reviewal of patient care within their hospitals. This was done in a most confidential manner.
A concern was expressed by persons at the meeting that procedures used in making charges against Dr. Lee were done illegally. This allegation was attacked by Kerr and Murphy who emphasized that all legal procedures were followed in the handling of this case.
Murphy noted that the medical staff had prepared a letter to the hospital board recommending that members of the ad hoc committee not be those selected from the Tracy staff as required by the hospital by-laws, but instead select any doctor from the Lyon-Lincoln County Medical Society.
• Last week’s answer: The new Hollywood Ballroom opened open to the public Labor Day weekend of 1989.
