Governor de Jongh Vetoes Bill which Sought "to Provide Continued and Uninterrupted Privileges and Credentialing" to St. Thomas Physician at Both Territorial Hospitals and All Health Care Facilities

On Wednesday night, Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. vetoed a measure passed recently by the 28th Legislature which proposed to enact a law that would have provided for the “continued and uninterrupted privileges and credentialing” of former governor, Dr. Roy L. Schneider, by all Virgin Islands Government Hospitals and Public Health facilities. 

de Jongh said that the legislation provides precedence for physicians to receive and maintain without questioning, examination, or conditions, the infinite credentialing at any hospital in the Virgin Islands. “The intent of the legislation conflicts with federal regulations governing health care facilities, national practice guidelines, the medical code of ethics, and patient safety guidelines. Further, this legislation prevents the hospitals from enforcing professional standards in accordance with Joint Commission accreditation criteria, and if enacted, will jeopardize the accreditation of our hospitals. In effect, the government will lose all funding to support Medicare services for its residents.”

In further explaining his veto of the bill, de Jongh said, “Since the passage of this bill by the 28th Legislature, I have received correspondence from the Medical Directors of both the Schneider Regional Medical Center and the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center, as well as the Chief Operating Officers and Medical Staff Presidents of both institutions, expressing great dismay that this bill passed through the Senate without a committee hearing given its far-reaching implications.”

de Jongh said it was important to note that similar language was expressed in Resolution No. 1743, Bill 28-0195, passed by the 28th Legislature as recent as December 21, 2009, which in contrast to Bill 28-0207 merely expresses the “will” of the Legislature. Resolution No. 1743 provides that Dr. Roy L. Schneider is “deserving of fair treatment and consideration in credentialing and privileging decisions, [and] … the continued grant of credentials and privileges...” at the hospital. “However, for reasons unbeknownst to the whole of the medical community, the 28th Legislature now seeks to codify conditions that would risk an entire community. I hereby veto this legislation, which represents unconstitutional special legislation as it applies to one person to the detriment of a whole community.”

The governor said it must be understood that the contributions Dr. Roy L. Schneider has given to the community are without question and have been of tremendous value for which our community is forever grateful.

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