Like at a wedding, the friends of the nonprofit Wyoming Medical Center sat on the left side of the room and the friends of the Central Wyoming Neurosurgery sat on the right on Thursday evening in the Casper City Council chambers.

Like a divorce, the criticisms outweighed the good the respective sides saw in each other.

Like a wedding, friends of the families heaped praise on their relatives.

Like a divorce, the disputes alternated between the end of the relationship and the hope that somehow it all could be reconciled.

There was even an apology for bad behavior.

Presiding over the improbable nuptials were the Natrona County commissioners who called for the ceremony.

They couldn't pronounce a marriage or decree a divorce.

But the four of the five commissioners -- chairman Drew Perkins was at home recovering from being hit by a truck Monday -- patiently heard roughly 80 people, most of whom voiced their thoughts on the dispute.

A few, such as Sen. Charles Scott, R-Casper, actually talked about health care.

As the long-time member of the Senate Labor, Health and Social Services Committee, Scott wanted to hear more about the cost of health care and health insurance, availability of health care providers, questions about the specialty hospital proposed by National Surgical Hospitals in the McMurry Business Park, and the use of the legal system in slandering physicians.

However, the predominant WMC-CWN dispute obscured those deeper issues, Scott said before he left the meeting. "It says we have some very healthy egos."

The Natrona County Commission promoted the event as a forum about health care, but it was inevitable that most of the comments would be about the dispute between the WMC and the neurosurgery group, which no longer practices inside the medical complex at 1233 E. Second St.

The neurosurgery group's doctors resigned their privileges because the WMC wouldn't allow them to have their own operating room team. Both sides claim the other didn't want to negotiate in good faith.

At the beginning of the nearly five-hour meeting, acting commission chairwoman Kathleen Dixon outlined what the commission as owners of the hospital assets can do -- monitor the fiscal health of the leasing WMC; and cannot do -- namely manage the WMC's business.

Dixon also laid down the law for the audience and the speakers -- everyone would be able to speak; the commissioners were there to listen and not answer questions; take three and only three minutes to speak with a big digital clock to keep them honest; and refrain from outbursts, clapping and disrespectful behavior.

Most speakers complied, sometimes with only a second or two to spare.

Leo Riley, chairman of the Memorial Hospital Board of trustees that oversees the lease between the county and the hospital, expressed his confidence in the Wyoming Medical Center's leadership, especially of CEO Pam Fulks.

Wyoming Medical Center board chairman Mike Reid echoed that, as did numerous doctors, hospital staff and nurses, some of whom have had decades of experience at the hospital.

The dispute between the hospital and Central Wyoming Neurosurgery is over and the commissioners should let it go, Reid said. "We ask that this issue be put to rest and let the healing begin in our community."

Vickie Diamond, the WMC's chief operating officer, apologized to neurosurgeon Dr. Tom Kopitnik and his wife Cathy about the police report filed by the operating room director claiming that he stole operating room equipment.

Dr. Tom Cunningham, a radiologist and member of the WMC's board of directors, said many people didn't understand what is really going on at the hospital. "There are maybe 20 people in this room who know the truth."

However, those favorable to the neurosurgery group said the dispute is not over, and asked the commissioners to do something, including a request that the WMC's board meetings be open.

"We need to look at why board meetings are closed, and should they be," said Julie Briggs.

However, Reid can't make that decision alone, he said at the end of the forum.

"The board would need to make it," Reid said.

The open meetings matter has been brought up in WMC board meetings, but board members have voted down the idea, he said.

Open meetings probably wouldn't be practical because of the number of contracts and other proprietary issues discussed, Reid said.

However, he admitted that those issues could be dealt with in executive session.

"Certainly we can take another look at it," Reid said.

After the meeting, commissioner Jon Campbell said the Commission will meet with the Wyoming Medical Center board on Thursday, Dec. 22.

Reporter Tom Morton can be reached at (307) 266-0592, or at Tom.Morton@casperstartribune.net.