Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 10, 1990 TAG: 9003102476
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
"Clearly, the university wanted Mr. Gathers to play. At least individuals in the athletic department wanted him to play," said Bruce Fagel, an attorney who also is a licensed physician specializing in emergency medicine.
"Clearly, there was contact between the athletic department and the doctors that his medication be reduced because it was affecting his ability to play."
Fagel said he expected to file a suit next week seeking money for damages in the sudden death of Gathers on March 4.
Fagel said that after Gathers fainted on the court Dec. 9 and tests showed that he had an irregular heartbeat, the basketball player began using the drug Inderal to control the condition.
Gathers' dosage was reduced three times, the last on Feb. 20, 12 days before he collapsed during Loyola's West Coast Conference Tournament game against Portland. Gathers was pronounced dead less than two hours later.
An unnamed cardiologist told the Los Angeles Times that Gathers had been told playing basketball would jeopardize his life. The cardiologist also said it was doubtful Gathers had taken any medication in the week before his death.
However, Fagel said the medical records he has examined indicate Gathers was never told he couldn't play basketball. The attorney also said members of Gathers' family said the player took his medicine both the day before he died and the day he died.
The president of Loyola Marymount said Friday he was satisfied with the school's handling of the situation.
Father James N. Loughran said a Dec. 21 letter signed by Dr. Michael Mellman, an internist who treated Gathers after he fainted Dec. 9, released Gathers for full participation within seven to 10 days of the date of the letter.
Loughran said if Loyola officials had been told Gathers was jeopardizing his life by playing, he wouldn't have been allowed to play.
Fagel said the release signed by Mellman was not a full release.
by CNB