He has a name (or rather two) and a surname: Steven Claudio Masotti. An official position: medical director of vascular surgery, assigned on December 19th. Yet at Brotzu, mystery seems to hover over the true role within Arnas of this non-Sardinian doctor, who arrived in Cagliari at the age of 68. In San Michele and Businco, more and more people are talking about him. "But for goodness sake, my name mustn't end up in the newspaper," is the fearful warning from those who tell behind the scenes. And a portrait emerges that is more of authority than scalpel. Masotti—without a lab coat, but also without personal protective equipment—is seen around construction sites urging workers, is said to be moving around with an unnamed "Regional engineer," is said to be issuing orders at various levels, and is said to have a relationship of trust with General Manager Maurizio Marcias. Some have perceived these actions as interference and have threatened to resign from their positions.
The hushed chatter has become a buzz. Masotti recently received a position in the special unit for time-dependent pathologies, a group that left other specialists in the Brotzu sector out.
And a union representative, Gianfranco Angioni of the USB, decided to ask manager Marcias for clarification, in a formal letter: without naming names, he speaks of a "figure who moves between departments, operating rooms, services, and even internal construction sites, carrying out communication, verification, and interaction with staff." There's even a nickname: "'The sheriff without a badge,'" says Angioni, "representing a widespread perception of an operational role not clearly traced to a formal act of assignment." His "methods of intervention are perceived as highly authoritative, with direct references to possible disciplinary consequences." Marcias, when asked, responds: "Management is unaware of what has been reported." But the "narration" may be just the beginning.
Enrico Fresu