Springdale doctor takes fight for hospital privileges to court

ASpringdale doctor is taking his fight for hospital privileges to the Supreme Court in St. John's.

Dr. Todd Young, who served a 19-month suspension after he admitted to having a three-year relationship with a former patient, is fighting to restorehis privileges to admit and treat patients at the local hospital.

• 'It's gonna take someone's life': Springdale patients rally to support Dr. Todd Young

• Springdale doctor frustrated by Central Health

• Back to work conditions for Springdale doctor who had sex with patient

He's treating patients again at his practice inSpringdale, but in March Central Health denied Young's request to admit patients to the Green Bay Health Centre for emergencies or palliative care.

That means Young is unable to treat his patients while they are in the hospital, or conduct procedures using hospital facilities.

A rally was held by someof Young's patients and supporters in the community in hopes of getting Central Health to change their mind last month, but the health authorityis standing by their decision.

Wants Central Health to reconsider

On Friday, Young and his lawyer Jerome Kennedy asked Justice William Goodridge to force Central Health to take another look at his application.

Kennedy said in court that Young is the only physician in Central Health's system that has been denied hospital admission privilegesand argued thedecision was unreasonable and biased.

He saidthe person in authority at Central Health made a moral decision, and not an objective one.

According to Kennedy, Young has already served his suspension, but he continues to be punished.

Central Health's lawyer Michelle Willette maintained that the decision to deny Younghospital privileges was fair, adding Youngdidn't meet the necessary criteria.

She said that past misconduct was considered in the decision, and thatCentral Health feels Young broke its trust.

His past, said Willette, could make him a legal liability.

Young saidover 3,000people have requested him as a family physician in Springdale, and hospital privileges are an important part of care in rural areas.

Justice Goodridgeoffered no ruling on Friday, and saidhe needs more time to assess the complicatedcase.

He said he has toweigh the options and decide whether Central Healthcan continue to deny Young privileges, or if it must reconsider his application using a committee or arbitrator.