When a state official is accused of conflict of interests or any other manner of unethical behavior, there are only two defenses, full disclosure or resignation. The latter yawned before me like an abyss. It was dear that the governor’s intention was to maneuver me over the edge.
“You are a forensic pathologist of national stature and the chief medical examiner of this, Commonwealth,” he went on. “You’ve enjoyed a very distinguished career and an impeccable reputation in the law enforcement community. But in the matter before us, you are showing poor judgment. You are not being meticulous about avoiding any appearance of impropriety.”
“I have been meticulous, Governor, and I have done nothing wrong,” I repeated. “The facts will bear this out, but I will not discuss the matter further until I speak with an attorney. And I will not make full disclosure unless it is through him and before a judge in a sealed hearing.”
“A sealed hearing?” His eyes narrowed.
“Certainly details of my personal life affect individuals besides me.”
“Who? Husband, children, lover? It is my understanding you have note of these, that you live alone and are - to use the cliche - wedded to your work. Just who might you be protecting?”
“Governor Norring, you are baiting me.”
“No ma’am. I’m simply looking for anything to corroborate your claims. You say you are concerned with protecting others, and I’m inquiring as to who these others might be. Certainly not patients. Your patients are deceased.
“I dog not feel that you are being fair or impartial,” I said and I knew I sounded cold. “Nothing about this meeing was fair from the outset. I’m given twenty minutes notice to be here and am not told the agenda -“
He interrupted. “Why, Doctor, I should think you might have guessed the agenda-“
“Just as l should have guessed that our meeting was a public event.”
“I understand the press came out in force.” His expression did not change.
“I’d like to know how this occurred,” I said heatedly.
“If you’re asking if this office notified the press of ma meeting, I’m telling you that we did not.”
I did not respond.
“Doctor, I’m not certain you understand that as public servants we must operate by a different set of rules. In a sense, we are not allowed private lives. Or perhaps it would be better to say that if our ethics or judgment are questioned, the public has a right to examine, in some instances, the most private aspects of our existences. Whenever I am about to undertake a certain activity or even write a check, I have to ask myself if what I am doing will holdup under the most intense scrutiny.”