Federal rules prohibit dialysis providers from retaliating against patients because of complaints or “noncompliance.” So Tommy was shocked when, one August day in 2021, a DaVita rep told him he was no longer welcome because he’d brought a gun into the clinic and threatened people. Except Tommy insisted he had done no such thing.

He did legally carry a firearm; as a restaurant owner, Tommy dealt with large amounts of cash. But he knew guns weren’t allowed in dialysis, so he would leave his gun locked in the trunk of his aging Escalade. After one session, a technician helping Tommy load his walker into the vehicle spotted the shiny black pistol and immediately reported it to the clinic director. The director, Tommy and Lorene surmised, had spun a tall tale to get rid of a difficult patient. “This is just because you’re trying to shut me up,” Tommy said.