Doctor Says He Ordered Lewis to Take More Tests on Heart

BOSTON —  The doctor who said publicly that Reggie Lewis had a normal athlete’s heart ended his silence Thursday and said he had ordered additional tests before allowing the Boston Celtic star to play basketball.

Gilbert Mudge, commenting for the first time since Lewis died while shooting baskets nine days ago, said Lewis was still being monitored. Mudge, director of clincial cardiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, stopped short of defending his diagnosis.

“My opinion regarding the possibility of Reggie’s return to professional basketball was always conditional and dependent upon further testing, careful monitoring and the progress of a planned exercise program,” Mudge said in a statement.

After Lewis collapsed during an April 29 playoff game, a team of doctors found he had a potentially life-threatening heart problem. Lewis sought a second opinion from Mudge, who said the player appeared to have a benign fainting condition.