Cardiologist wins 4-year fight with hospital

A Halifax doctor has won the right to return to her cardiac research, almost four years after her privileges were revoked.

The board of directors of the Capital District Health Authority has ruled that Dr. Gabrielle Horne should not have been kept from the clinic.

In its decision released Friday, the panel said Horne's "lack of collegiality" with her colleagues warranted officials to take action, but it was not "sufficiently problematic" for her privileges to besuddenly altered.

Capital Health CEO John Malcom called it a "fair and balanced decision."

Horne's lawyer, Ron Pizzo, said he's pleased but concerned the ruling raises questions about Horne's relationship with other doctors.

Pizzo said Horne may comment Monday on the board's decision.

Horne had been fighting since October 2002 to get back to her research.

A colleague accused her of endangering patients, unethical research and a lack of collegiality. The QEII Health Sciences Centre reacted by blocking her access to patients and charts.

An internal disciplinary review process dragged on, even though the bylaws of the health authority, which oversees the hospital, state it must be completed within 30 days.

The two sides disagreed over the 30-day timeline, however.

When the matter was still unresolved three years later, staff doctors launched their own investigation. Their review, released in December 2005, recommended Horne regain her full privileges.