Chapter 9 - THE BOARD MEETING
The foundation board met under independent counsel.
Mara recused herself from the chair during discussion of her own security action.
That surprised Adrian.
He expected her to cling to power.
Instead, she asked vice chair Ruth Bell to preside.
The evidence came in categories.
Accounting.
Procurement.
Conflict disclosures.
Patient-boundary concerns.
Consulting payments.
Adrian’s referral fee.
Dr. Hale’s transition arrangement.
Then the security lockdown.
Independent counsel concluded Mara’s use of the preservation protocol was within authority because a documented fraud concern already existed.
But they criticized the timing.
It should have been coordinated through counsel first if circumstances allowed.
Mara accepted that.
No dramatic perfection.
No one was flawless.
Adrian’s consulting contract was terminated.
He later faced civil claims and professional consequences tied to undisclosed payments.
Northpoint’s proposed deal collapsed.
Dr. Hale resigned.
The licensing board reviewed his conduct concerning patient boundaries and administrative conflicts.
Celeste kept her family board seat only after agreeing to an extended conflict restriction and independent governance training.
Some directors wanted her removed entirely.
Mara voted to suspend, not erase.
Why?
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Because recovery should not become permanent disenfranchisement.
But neither should family status become immunity.
