INTERVIEW – A few days after the non-publication of the IGAS report on the suicide of the HEGP cardiologist, the Jean-Louis Mégnien Association is calling for accounts.
Nine months ago, Prof. Jean-Louis Mégnien, cardiologist at the Georges-Pompidou hospital, ended his life at his workplace. Seized to shed light on the circumstances of this tragedy and the accusations of moral harassment brought against the management of the hospital and certain colleagues of the deceased doctor, the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS) handed over its report to the Ministry of Health.
The document, a summary of which has been distributed, points to numerous “shortcomings” and a strong responsibility on the part of the management of the Georges-Pompidou hospital and the AP-HP. The ministry and the inspectors, however, chose not to publish the report, on the grounds that it contains information relating to the private life of Professor Mégnien.
An element disputed by the Jean-Louis Mégnien Association, made up of relatives and colleagues who campaign for recognition of psychological violence perpetrated against hospital staff. Professor Philippe Halimi, radiologist at HEGP, is one of its spokespersons.
Why do you dispute the reasons given for the non-publication of the report?
Prof. Philippe Halimi: The answer is in the letter written by the head of IGAS for the attention of Marisol Touraine. It reads that “the numerous shortcomings identified by the mission lead it to criticize the professional and personal behavior of a large number of people, and to make value judgments about them, the public disclosure of which would be of a nature to harm them ”.
In administrative language, this means that the report points out in a very serious way the responsibility, both administrative (“professional behavior”) and criminal (“personal”) of a certain number of people: the local medical directorate, Jean’s hierarchy. -Louis Mégnien, as well as the presidents of the Local Establishment Medical Commission who had the lock of Jean-Louis Mégnien’s office changed. All these people are seriously implicated and this is the reason for this non-publication.
So you are calling for its publication?
Prof. Philippe Halimi: We especially demand that sanctions be taken against those responsible who pushed our colleague to suicide. We are going to request an interview with the Minister of Health, who has already given her agreement in principle. Marisol Touraine has the full report. It has the names of those responsible and must take disciplinary action against the management and the doctors concerned, as it has committed.
During this meeting, we will also discuss the other cases of harassment at the hospital that we have heard of, and they are numerous. Finally, we will ensure that those targeted by harassment charges do not benefit from a timely promotion or transfer, as has been seen in previous cases.
Is there a desire to cover those responsible through this non-publication?
Philippe Halimi: No, because the terms are nevertheless very evocative and IGAS points the finger at names. The leader himself recognizes the responsibility of these people. We are no longer the “nest of vipers” that some wanted to describe when we spoke of bullying.
On the other hand, this term does not appear anywhere in the summary of this report, while a judicial investigation has been opened, precisely for harassment. In addition, we are very surprised that the IGAS did not take into account the elements that we produced (emails, messages) and which directly incriminate these people. The mission says it cannot authenticate them. We posted them on the internet in April, no one came to question them… We asked for a meeting with the head of IGAS to clarify this point.
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