What's up with the Urology Group of Western New England, located in the red brick building at 10 Main St. in Florence?

As a patient, how would you react to the following letter I received from a doctor I have had occasion to frequent over the years..

"As you know by now, I have left Urology Group of Western New England and have opened a solo practice in urology. Unfortunately, because of the sudden manner in which this occurred, many patients have been left to wonder why I was not available to provide for their care this summer."

Here's the intriguing part:

"As it happened, I went on vacation in the latter part of June and returned shortly after July 4th. When I returned from vacation, I was shocked to discover that I no longer had an office and that patients I had scheduled for appointments and surgery were cared for by other physicians at Urology Group of Western New England, without my knowledge or consent. Soon thereafter, I learned that many of my patients had received a letter reassigning their urologic care to another physician or physician's assistant; again, without my knowledge or consent."

"It was my desire at that time, to write all my present and former patients to let them know I was alive, well and relocating my practice. Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain any contact information for my patients. During the next two months, I continued to try to obtain a patient list, but this information was withheld from me by my former colleagues at Urology Group of Western New England. Finally, this week, I obtained a list of my patients' names, addresses and telephone numbers, pursuant to a court order, and I am now able to contact you directly."

"Please let me assure you that at no time was it my intention to abandon any patient or to leave without providing for your ongoing care. In addition, I did not request that any patient be reassigned to another provider; and even though what occurred this summer came about through the actions of other people, I am truly sorry for any inconvenience, confusion or distress that these events may have caused you or your family."

Dr. David M. Chadbourne then concludes with a plea for his ex-patients to get in touch with him and resume business as usual.

It seemed to me that patients might want to know a lot more about this tawdry affair before spending more time in the offices of the either the urology group or Dr. Chadbourne.

So I wrote both Chadbourne and Dr. Raphael deLima at the Urology Group, separate versions of the following:

"Dear Dr. Chadbourne:"

"As a patient of several years of the Urology Group of Western New England and having been seen annually by you, I am more than a little puzzled by the troubling communications I have received from your office and from the group practice."

"Obviously, something highly contentious and most unusual has been going on between them and you."