State charges Mukilteo doctor with misconduct

Published 9:00 am Wednesday, November 9, 2005

A former Whidbey Island doctor now practicing in Mukilteo has been charged with misconduct and faces alleged violations of professional care by the state medical disciplinary board.

Heidi S. Rendall, a South Whidbey resident, and the sole physician practicing at the Anchor Medical Clinic in the Quadrant Business Park, has been charged by the Medical Quality Assurance Commission with violations related to professionalism and medical care standards. Rendall, who received her state license to practice medicine in 1981, is charged with leaving her medicine cabinet unlocked, misdiagnosing and failing to provide adequate treatment for several patients.

Her attorney William Fligeltaub said his client was notified of the charges last week.

“She was surprised and disappointed because some of these charges go back several years. We had hoped some of these would have been resolved,” Fligeltaub said.

“We look forward to working with the Medical Quality Assurance Commission to address these allegations,” Fligeltaub said.

The charges involve 10 patients.

Some of the allegations date back to the 1990s.

In 1994 and 2001, she prescribed Depo-Provera, a birth control shot for two patients who had a history of depression, even though Depo-Provera is not recommended for patients with depression. One of these two patients, an employee at her clinic, attempted suicide on April 30, 2000, by taking lorazepam.

The employee allegedly got lorazepam, a controlled substance, from an unlocked cabinet in Rendall’s office. The patient was treated for an overdose at a nearby hospital and released to Rendall. Less than 24 hours after her release, she made a second suicide attempt, according to the statement of charges.

Rendall is also charged with failing to diagnose a patient with cancer. Rendall and her physician’s assistant failed to perform tests to diagnose a man in his 50s with colon cancer.

In another case, Rendall allegedly failed to adequately document the diagnoses, prognosis or treatment of a patient’s diabetes and or hyperlipidemia and or hypertension and or renal insufficiency.

Between January 1990 and March 2002, Rendall allegedly employed eight patients or former patients. Between April 2001 and July 2002, she failed to lock or secure medication samples including controlled substances in her clinic.

According to the state, the charges against Rendall affect the public health, safety and welfare. Rendall and her attorney will have the opportunity to defend against the charges, if they fail to do so, she faces discipline and sanctions according to state regulations.

Rendall will need more time to respond to the charges, her attorney said.

“We have asked for a 60-day extension to respond to the charges,” Fligeltaub said.

In January 2005, Rendall began operating a “no medical insurance” business.

In an article in the South Whidbey Record earlier this year, Rendall said she believed that paperwork related to insurance took her away from caring for patients. During the interview in The Record, Rendall advocated for her patients to purchase major medical policies with high deductibles to cover care not performed in her clinic.

Rendall is continuing her medical practice while the case is resolved.

“Dozens of her patients have called her to express their support,” Fligeltaub said.