Zeeland doctor fired for taking home a fetus in a jar

John Hogan | WZZM

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A Spectrum Health doctor who took a miscarried fetus home in a jar to show his daughters was justifiably fired, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled.

Dr. Philip J. Taylor was fired in Jan. 2013 for "unethical behavior'' after it was learned he took the miscarried fetus of a patient home to show his daughters and for displaying it on other occasions.

Spectrum in fall, 2012 began an investigation into Taylor's conduct after receiving reports of "angry outburst at work'' and that he "acted unethically in handling a patient's deceased fetus.''

Taylor preserved the fetus in a jar formalin that was turned over to him for disposal by one of his patients, who had suffered a miscarriage, according to court documents.

"Thereafter, he took the fetus home to show his daughters, who were interested in attending medical school and also displayed it on other occasions,'' court records show.

The Zeeland man filed a labor relations lawsuit against Spectrum Health in Kent County Circuit Court for breach of contract, arguing that his behavior was not unethical and therefore, his termination was a violation of his employment contract.

Kent County Circuit Court Judge Donald A. Johnston dismissed the case in July, 2014, ruling the contract language regarding unethical behavior was clear. The Court of Appeals agreed.

"We find the language at issue to be plain and unambiguous,'' justices wrote in a 7-page decision released Friday.

The state's Bureau of Health Care Services in June issued a reprimand and fined Taylor for violation of general duty-negligence.

Spectrum Health said in a release it is pleased with today's ruling."We strongly believe this was the right decision for Spectrum Health, but most importantly, for the patient and her family,'' the release states.