The former CEO of Newfoundland's Eastern Health authority reached a lucrative settlement before announcing his resignation last month amid scandals over flawed breast cancer tests and radiology reports.
Details of the severance agreement with George Tilley were obtained by the St. John's Telegram under access-to-information laws.
Joan Dawe, chairwoman of Eastern Health's board of directors, declined to offer details of the agreement when Mr. Tilley resigned.
Under the deal, Mr. Tilley will receive his regular salary of $255,000 for a year after his departure, and he will get all his employment benefits and pension credits. Eastern Health will also make payments for life and health insurance and pension plan contributions.
At any time over the next year, Mr. Tilley has the option of taking the outstanding salary in a lump sum.
Ms. Dawe confirmed the agreement was signed July 9, and was approved by Health Minister Ross Wiseman. Mr. Wiseman could not be reached for comment Tuesday. A spokeswoman for the department steered all questions to Eastern Health.
Mr. Tilley quit without explanation after weeks of turmoil in the health system. His resignation letter was a single sentence: "I hereby submit my resignation as chief executive officer of Eastern Regional Integrated Health Authority, with effect from 8 July 2007."
Two days after the resignation, interim CEO Louise Jones announced that a review of a suspended radiologist's work was not complete, even though Eastern Health officials said the opposite a month earlier.
Mr. Wiseman reacted angrily to the revelation, and pointed the finger squarely at Mr. Tilley. But the Health Minister has denied asking for Mr. Tilley's resignation.
Mr. Tilley was also under intense scrutiny for his role in the handling of a review of hormone receptor testing, which helps determine treatment options for patients with breast cancer.
For months, Eastern Health and the provincial government withheld details of the magnitude of the error rate. Officials have said the decision was based on legal advice. The receptor testing issue is at the centre of a judicial commission of inquiry. A class-action lawsuit has also been launched.