ISBN: 0-9739843-0-9
About the author:
Hazel Joan(Schattschneider)Magnussen, a graduate of the University of Alberta, is a retired nurse with 35 years experience in health care. Her primary clinical focus in the last ten years was mental health nursing and her articles about nursing ethics and nurse-physician relationships have been published in various professional journals. In addition, she has written articles and presented papers on 'bullying' and 'disruptive behaviour in the workplace', and detailed the experience and needs of victims of crime in the criminal justice process.
A Doctor's Calling: a matter of conscience
Hazel J. Magnussen
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A chronicle of the life and career of country doctor Douglas George Snider and his efforts to resolve an issue affecting health care in Fairview, Alberta. The first full public account of the events leading up to Snider’s murder in 1999 and the response by the criminal justice system.
FOREWORD:
Hazel Magnussen's account of her brother's life and death deals with many facets of human dynamics. I was impressed with both the detailed information and Magnussen's insightful observations drawn from her family's painful experience.
From my experience in professional regulation, I was most struck by the powerful messages this book conveys about disruptive physician behavior. The medical profession has long recognized the risks associated with chemically impaired physicians and has developed effective interventions to mitigate those risks. However, until very recently, we have failed to acknowledge the destructive potential of unchecked physician behavior and have failed to develop effective interventions.
Hazel Magnussen has done the medical profession an enormous service by challenging the profession to critically revisit the history surrounding her brother's murder by a medical colleague. We are challenged to ask what can and should be done to identify and modify destructive physician behavior at an earlier stage. I would encourage all persons involved in medical management to read this book.
Dr. Dennis A. Kendel, MD
Registrar College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan
REVIEWS:
Hazel Magnussen has written a thoughtful and moving account about the tragic and brutal death of Doug Snider. She reports the facts in a balanced manner, which is perhaps surprising, given that Magnussen is Doug Snider's little sister. Magnussen wants to tell Canadians that the justice system is weighted too heavily in favour of criminals. She argues well and forcefully, even as her heart is broken. The book is also an introduction to Abe Cooper, a charismatic, driven, highly accomplished man, but one so arrogant and selfish that he felt justified in harassing, then killing a good man, small town doctor Doug Snider. -David Staples, Edmonton Journal
This book details a dimension of our Canadian society to which most of us turn a blind eye. It is only when we are personally involved in such a nightmare, that we appreciate the full depth of the outrage. It deserves to be read by every Canadian. -Rev. Foster Freed, United Church minister
This book illustrates the reality of what victims of crime often face in the criminal justice system. Victims have few rights in a system that often victimizes them a second time. Hazel Magnussen has described the pain that too many victims in Canada feel and her call for reform must be heard. Steve Sullivan, President, Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime.
Hazel has written a fair and important account of the events leading up to the murder of her brother and a mesmerizing, but shocking, report on the subsequent trial. Hazel writes eloquently, as she emphasizes the need for sweeping reforms in our judicial system, which often appears less interested in the truth and more interested in protecting the offender. She also presents a compelling message that medical regulators must deal incisively with members who are abusive and disruptive. This book deserves to be read by all Canadians who care about medical and judicial reforms and who believe in our Canadian ideal of fairness for all.
Carol Gemgembre, volunteer director, Oceanside Citizens on Patrol (COPS)
Marketa Stastna, Fast Forward, Calgary's News & Entertainment Weekly, August 17,2006
Author Hazel J. Magnussen tackles a brutal true crime story with excellent research and a cool head.She is a thoughtful and forceful writer. Ali Vail, Parksville/ Qualicum Beach (BC) News
No one imagines the health-care system and the justice system to be perfect, but few readers would expect the flaws that Magnussen highlights in this book…The fact that Magnussen’s book is available at so many fine book stores in Alberta and B.C., and is in so many public libraries, says a lot for the author’s ability as well as the interest in the subject. Liz Pogue, Times Colonist, March18, 2007
A Doctor’s Calling is a courageous book, a necessary book and I fully appreciate the pain and the passion with which the author needed to write it. The law is often about the law, and not about justice. What happened to Magnussen, her brother, and her family is an outrage, and probably happens somewhere in the US or Canada every day.
Dr. James Hollis, Jungian analyst and author
Magnussen honors her brother by giving us much biographical detail of how he lived, not just how he died. This is important because too often individuals who suffer a violent death are eclipsed (and inadvertently diminished) by how they die…..
This slim volume is important reading for all Canadian physicians. It gives us much insight into disruptive behavior by physicians in the medical workplace.
Dr. Michael F. Myers, BC Medical Journal, November 2007.
This book was well written, has good structure, and contains an important
story. Review by
James Loewen,Spring 2008 Newsletter, Church Council on Justice and Corrections.
Hazel Magnussen's detailed and frank book succinctly alerts readers to the difficult challenges associated with identifying and managing disruptive behaviour among physicians. She also shares her family's painful lessons about the Canadian justice system, and the key strategies they feel governments ought to enact to fully honour her brother's death. Well written and enriched with family photographs and personal anecdotes, Magnussen carefully reveals the often secret struggle faced by those tasked with managing disruptive behaviour. ..
Her message is crystal clear: self regulation and the criminal justice system both failed her brother, his family, and the community he served. We can, and ought to, do better. Review by Dr. Derek Puddester, University of Ottawa, Canadian Medical Association Journal, July 1, 2008. p. 57-58
SISTER OF SLAIN DOCTOR LAUNCHES BOOK: Hazel Magnussen, younger sister of Dr. Douglas George Snider, the physician whose life was taken by another physician in May 1999, has written a book telling her brother's story. The book chronicles Snider's life, career and efforts to ensure quality health and medical care for the community of Fairview in the Alberta Peace River country. Magnussen reviews the history of disruptive behavior and events leading up to the crime by Abe Cooper, who was charged with first degree murder but convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter. She also describes the criminal justice process that allowed her brother, the victim to be put on trial while the history and due process rights of the defendant were protected. Magnussen argues that the safety of the public and the rights of victims of crime ought to be priorities for justice reform: Criminal justice reform is necessary in order to ensure that, according to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, all persons have"the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination." That includes victims of crime and the public at large. Only then can confidence in the Canadian criminal justice system be restored. ( A Doctor's Calling .p 140) MEDIA RELEASE August 2006BOOK DRAWS ATTENTION TO WORKPLACE BULLYING Early publicity of the book focused on issues related to the justice system that allowed the court to put the victim, not the defendant on trial. Another issue in this story is the matter of disruptive behavior by physicians in the health care workplace. The book is in part a case example (albeit extreme) of the nature and ramifications of bullying in any workplace. Magnussen calls for reform in the manner in which the medical profession monitors and regulates the conduct of physicians. She examines the issue and summarizes recent initiatives that call for greater awareness and the development of workplace policies to ensure early assessment and intervention in the management of workplace bullying. Reviewers describe the book, A Doctor’s Calling as: a courageous book, a necessary book… a work of love and concern… an important book …… a masterful job. MEDIA RELEASE: OCTOBER 2006BC AUTHOR TAKES BOOK TO ONTARIO BC author, Hazel Magnussen, will be visiting Ontario in late October/early November to promote her book, A Doctor’s Calling: A matter of conscience. Magnussen has written about the life and death of her brother, Dr. Douglas George Snider, and his efforts to ensure quality medical care for his community in the Alberta Peace country. Since its launch in May, this book has been selling quickly in northern Alberta where people are eager to learn more about the 1999 tragedy that shook their community and continues to capture media attention. Magnussen will share her story on October 25 at the second annual conference of the Canadian Association for Victim Assistance at Novotel Hotel in Mississauga, Ontario. In her presentation, Reinforcing and Clarifying the Message: Is anyone listening? Magnussen will review her experience and lessons learned in advocating for criminal justice reform. MEDIA RELEASE FEBUARY 2007PREVENTING CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION IN THE WORKPLACE A recent Stats Canada report notes that 17% of all self-reported incidents of “violent victimization” occurred in the respondent’s place of work. The report does not include statistics regarding psychological harassment and bullying in the workplace. However, these covert forms of workplace trauma undermine morale and productivity, compromise employee health and safety and can lead to criminal assault or even homicide. One such example is documented in the book, A Doctor’s Calling: A matter of conscience This book chronicles country doctor Douglas G. Snider’s life and career and his attempts to resolve a matter affecting health care in his community in the Alberta Peace River region. Ultimately his life was taken in the line of duty. The fact that it happened in a small western Canadian town demonstrates that malicious disruption, allowed to fester, can wreak its havoc anywhere… No matter where it occurs, violence and crime shatters trust and the well being of individuals and entire communities. I hope that the telling of this story will inform, and inspire positive change and healing in a society where intimidation, bullying and violence are all too common. Preface, A Doctor’s Calling MEDIA RELEASE: MAY 2007AUTHOR RETURNS TO ALBERTA TO COMMEMORATE ANNIVERSARIES OF BROTHER’S DEATH AND LAUNCH OF BOOK Eight years have passed since the death of Dr. Douglas George Snider at the hand of another physician, Abe Cooper, in Fairview, Alberta. Since then, reports of the search for Dr. Snider, the trial of Abe Cooper and subsequent Appeal and Parole Board hearings have intrigued and mystified the public. In A Doctor’s Calling: A matter of conscience, Snider’s younger sister Hazel (Schattschneider) Magnussen, a retired registered nurse, brings a personal and professional perspective to this eulogy to her brother’s life and call for reform in the medical regulatory and criminal justice systems. Released a year ago and described as informative, thoughtful and courageous, A Doctor’s Calling has been well received by Albertans. MEDIA RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 2007 MEDIA RELEASE: DECEMBER 2007 MEDIA RELEASE: APRIL 2008 "Hazel’s clear storytelling, her illuminating and insightful reflections on her experience of the court process, and her ability to speak with respect for all parties involved provides a rare and important insight into the experience of serious victimization. Her broad analysis of the factors that contributed to her brother's murder provides valuable input into the conversation about the complex roots of crime. Her outline of what she learned about the criminal justice system, both in the book proper and in the appendix, are instructive to those who seek to provide a more respectful and responsible response to victims. It also disabuses us of the notion that the court process is one which serves victims."
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Copyright © 2006 Hazel Joan Magnussen