Book details life and death of rural doctor

Hazel Magnussen has written a book from the heart and from her memory about her brother Doug Snider who was killed by a fellow doctor. A Doctor’s Calling, a matter of conscience, is partly a chronicle of her sibling’s life and death but more it is about, “restoring and preserving trust in the health care workplace,” she says.
The author will be speaking at UNBC’s Bentley Centre on Monday, Sept. 17. She will also be at Books and Company on Saturday, Sept. 15 for a book signing.
“Trustworthiness, a core ethical virtue is essential in relationships between health care professionals,” says Magnussen. “Workplace morale and relationships thrive when the principles of respect, trust, truth and accountability are validated and enforced by all stakeholders.”
The retired registered nurse who has studied theology and ethics, said her Power Point presentation at UNBC will describe how psychological harassment (bullying) undermines trust, threatenes employee health and safety and affects the quality of health care.
“It will review research and recent initiatives to address this overt form of violence that is all to prevalent in the health care workplace,” she said.
Magnussen is visiting Prince George to promote her book, A Doctor’s Calling, which tells the story of her brother’s death by a physician in Fairview, Alberta in 1999. The book details the history of disruptive behaviour and calls for reform in the manner in which regulatory authorities address the problem of disruptive and bullying behaviour. Copies of the book will be on sale at the UNBC event. Hazel Magnussen’s talk Restoring and Preserving Trust in the Health Care Workplace takes place Monday, Sept. 17 at UNBC’s Bentley Centre from 7-9 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.