1. When conflicting medical opinions are presented, should the advice of a medical expert count more heavily than the opinion of a general physician? Explain.
2. Is the charge of discrimination presented by Donald’s lawyer relevant to this case? Explain.

Job stress and depression are significant problems faced by employees and their managers. Unfortunately, when a case of depression arises, trying to resolve the problem may be difficult—sometimes leading to conflict—as this case illustrates.
Donald Knolls was an air traffic control supervisor for International Gateway Airport (IGA), an airport serving a major metropolitan area. In 2004, Donald began to experience depression and depression-related problems due largely to severe stress on the job. In 2005, he requested and was granted a disability leave for treatment of his illness. After eight months, his personal physician, an expert in depression treatment, and a licensed consulting psychologist agreed that he was sufficiently improved to return to his former position. IGA sent Donald to the physician it had used when Donald first requested his disability leave. After an extensive evaluation, the doctor concluded that Donald, while he had made considerable strides in overcoming his depression, should not be immediately returned to his former supervisory position because the conditions of the job had not changed and Donald was apt to find the stress too great. Instead, he recommended that Donald be returned to a nonsupervisory position on a six-month trial basis, with the case to be reviewed at the end of that time. IGA followed the advice of its doctor and did not return Donald to a supervisory position. Donald, angered by management’s decision, filed a grievance through IGA’s alternative dispute resolution procedure, a procedure that could end in binding arbitration.