Bourne contract renewed

In a brief Open Session of the Southern Mono Healthcare District Board, members on Wednesday, Oct. 21 approved a renewed contract for Dr. Jonathan Bourne, an anesthesiologist who was recently indicted on 21 felony counts related to his collection of native artifacts on public land.

There was no discussion among Board members regarding Dr. Bourne’s legal troubles during the portion of the meeting that was open to the public. The Board indicated there had been discussion about the contracts, but did not specify what the discussion had entailed, in closed session held prior to the public portion.

Robin Conners, Board Recording Secretary, said said that under California law, physicians are not allowed to be “employees” of hospitals and that they all operate as independent contractors. Wednesday’s approval was a standard procedure, she said, as the majority of physicians’ contracts must be renewed every three years.

“There’s nothing special about this because of Dr. Bourne’s [legal] situation,” said Mammoth Hospital Administration’s Tabby Mannetter.

“The Board of Directors, Medical Staff, and hospital staff extend our full support to Dr. Bourne as he works through his legal problems,” said Mammoth Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Gary Myers, in an email to The Sheet.

“We hope that Dr. Bourne is able to continue his anesthesia practice here at Mammoth Hospital indefinitely.”

Dr. Bourne, 59, has received the support of his employers and many of his colleagues as he faces up to 98 years in prison if convicted of all counts. Dr. Michael Karch, whose contract was also approved for renewal on Wednesday, told the L.A. Times in September that “This investigation is a waste of taxpayers’ money.”

”These are arrowheads, and they’ve been laying in the dirt for thousands of years.”