Conflict of interest

Editor,
I wish to address the issue of conflict of interest that was raised at the last hospital board meeting.

I am an independent practicing physician with active admitting privileges at the local hospital and do not have any conflict of interest in that I have no contracts of any sort and do not get any renumeration, reimbursement or payment from the hospital.

I bill for my services directly to the patient or their insurance companies. An organized medical staff with clearly defined hierarchy sets the policies and reports to the governing board on behalf of all physicians.

I am part owner of an office building which is leased to an independent lab and radiology owner/operators.

Serving a public entity may at times entail conflict of interest for any board member or administrator (as was so competently pointed out by legal counsel) and one has to use best judgment in these situations.

I respectfully invite incumbents to debate the many serious issues facing the health care district in an appropriate forum and not to use board meeting as election platform for diversionary discussion on “conflict of interest.”

R. Jindal, MD
Porterville