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Boot camp medical examiner plans appeal in other cases

MELISSA NELSON
September 13, 2006
Associated Press

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - A medical examiner who performed a disputed autopsy on a teenager who was manhandled by boot camp guards said Wednesday he would appeal a state Medical Examiner's Commission decision to discipline him for his negligent handling of other cases.

Dr. Charles Siebert, the medical examiner for a district including Bay County, said he has notified the commission of his intent to have his appeal heard before an administrative judge - a process that could take up to a year.

"In the United States we are innocent until proven guilty. I am going to try to prove my case," Siebert said.

Siebert believes he is being targeted by the state because of his unpopular findings in the case of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson. The boy died in January after he was roughed up by guards in a videotaped encounter at the Bay County sheriff's boot camp.

Siebert ruled the death was caused by natural complications of sickle cell trait, a genetic blood disorder. After outcry from Anderson's family and the public, his body was exhumed and a second autopsy by another doctor found he died from suffocation. A special prosecutor is reviewing the case.

The commission found in August that Siebert was negligent in performing at least 35 of 698 autopsies it reviewed. It didn't review the Anderson autopsy.

A three-member commission panel recommended he be suspended, but the full commission voted to order Siebert pay for his own supervisor until his three-year contract expires June 27.

Siebert said he wants to clear his name so that the commission and the governor will reappoint him to another three-year term. He earns $180,000 a year.

Dr. Stephen Nelson, the commission's chairman, said he had not received Siebert's notice of appeal.

"He has until sometime at the end of this month to let us know his decision. Without the official documentation, I cannot say what will happen," he said.

Siebert said he mailed notification of his decision to Nelson on Monday.

Nelson has said the administrative appeals process could take up to year, allowing Siebert to continue performing his normal duties through the end of his term without facing disciplinary action.

 

 

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