Sept. 25, 2002 – The Juan F. Luis Hospital Board of Trustees voted on Wednesday to reinstate a controversial kidney specialist's privileges to work in the hospital's hemodialysis unit.
The unanimous decision came during a six-hour meeting where the reinstatement of Dr. Walter H. Gardiner was the primary topic. "There was an executive meeting. They did call in some of the staff, some of the patients, to discuss the situation," hospital spokeswoman Carol Lee said afterward.
"A decision was made that there would be a transition to have Dr. Gardiner working in the dialysis unit by Oct. 25 at 5 p.m.," Lee said.
For the hospital board chair, Pastor Lester White, reinstating Gardiner's privileges came down to his qualifications and the right of his patients to be treated by the physician of their choice. "I don't think the issue for us was whether or not he would be reinstated … We just wanted to bring the adrenaline level down," White said. "The adrenaline was running pretty high, both in the JFL family and in the community."
Lee and White did not elaborate but both made reference to a situation in 1995, when Gardiner, a nephrologist, or kidney disease specialists, was on staff at the dialysis unit.
The hospital suspended Gardiner's privileges in 1997, but the board recently voted to reinstate them. When word of that decision reached the dialysis unit a few weeks ago, the head nurse submitted her resignation, which the board declined to accept, and there were other protests, resulting in the unit being shut down temporarily. At that time, the board agreed to put its decision on hold until Wednesday's meeting.
Last week, the hospital medical staff publicly endorsed the reinstatement of Gardiner's privileges to practice in the unit. (See "Medical staff supports dialysis doctor".)
Prior to the vote on Wednesday, White said, the board gave a number of dialysis patients and unit staff members the chance to express their feelings. He said some were in favor and others were opposed to the doctor's return. He said some of Gardiner's patients appeared fearful about saying they wanted him to come back, because of some of the other sentiments expressed at the meeting.
Lee said the board wanted it understood that Gardiner's return will not mean that patients must receive care from him if that is not their desire. "The board never meant to imply that patients would have to see any doctor that they did not want to see," she said.
White said the hospital's other certified kidney specialist and the director of the dialysis unit, Dr. Charles Perez, will continue to care for patients not being seen by Gardiner. Some 70 patients currently are receiving dialysis treatments at the hospital.
White also said he hopes Perez will be a harmonizing presence in the dialysis unit, and help make it possible for everyone who works there to work together.
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