A reasonable deal

We see nothing wrong with the University of Iowa negotiating an exemption from its noncompete policy with Dr. Jill Meadows.

It appears that UI made a reasonable deal with Meadows, who resigned from her position on the obstetrics reproductive and gynecology faculty last June in order to take a position with Planned Parenthood of the Heartland.

Because part of her new job included seeing patients at the organization's Iowa City clinic, that move violated a standard noncompete agreement the doctor signed when she began work for the UI in 1999, UI officials said.

That agreement prohibits medical faculty from working within a 50-mile radius of Iowa City for two years after leaving employment with the university.

But rather than take the issue to court, the school negotiated a mutually beneficial alternative, spokesman Tom Moore told us this week.

The school agreed not to enforce the terms of Meadows' noncompete agreement if she, in turn, agreed to continue working as an unpaid adjunct clinical faculty member for the school for two years - providing needed training in her areas of expertise for students and medical residents.

As part of that agreement, Meadows provides voluntary contraception and family planning training - including legal abortion - to medical residents and students from the Planned Parenthood clinic in Iowa City.

The UI will not pay the doctor's insurance or compensate her for the training.

It's not unlike deals the UI has struck with other doctors asking for release from their noncompete agreement upon leaving the university's employ.

“Is this just something they would do for anybody or just for abortionists,” one abortion opponent asked in a recent Associated Press story about the agreement. ”Is she getting special treatment because she can provide this training?”

We looked over several similar agreements the UI has made releasing other doctors from the noncompete agreement, and we're confident that the answer is no.

In the past, the College of Medicine has negotiated similar agreements with other doctors - reaching settlements for cash or continued services.

That Dr. Meadows' medical expertise includes medical abortion is irrelevant.

Pro-life groups who say the deal means the UI is buddying up with abortion providers are missing the point.

The agreement reached by Meadows and the UI will ensure obstetrics and gynecology residents are able to fulfill professional training requirements necessary to their schooling.

That's of much greater benefit to the UI community than could possibly be gained through a lawsuit.

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