Carol Jumper worked for oral surgeon Dr. George Visnich for 12 years until last month. After experience stomach pains, she discovered she had cancer affecting her pancreas, liver, and ovaries.
When Dr. Visnich found out, he sent Carol a handwritten letter of termination basically saying that her battle against cancer is too much for his office.
The letter, posted online by her friend Rose, reads:
“You are currently engaged in a battle against cancer that will be demanding physically, mentally, and emotionally. … You will not be able to function in my office at the level required while battling for your life. Because of this, I am laying you off without pay as of August 11, 2014.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you fight this horrible disease.”
Dr Visnich then explained to Ms Jumper that her symptoms, medications and side effects of chemotherapy will distract her from functioning in his office ‘at the level required.’
The public outcry after the letter went viral has caused many to raise funds on Carol’s behalf.
After being bombarded with a bunch of angry letters from the community, Visnich’s attorney says that Visnich did a ‘humanitarian thing’, arguing that he placed Carol on layoff status so she could collect unemployment compensation during her treatment, “with the understanding that when she is feeling better, she can come back to work.”
“Very disappointing, in that he’s trying to help this woman and he’s made out to be a villain,” said the attorney.
Her friend Rose notes that Carol is in her mid 40s, engaged and set to get married next year. Instead of pestering or bothering the employer who wrote this letter, Rose would prefer Carol’s supporters to send letters of encouragement as she deals with this difficult time.
What do you think of the letter? Do you think he did the right thing or was he just trying to rid himself of a potential nuisance?
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