Judge Grants Reprieve To Financially-Strapped Long Island College Hospital
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Long Island College Hospital has again been spared from closure.
A Brooklyn judge issued a temporary restraining order on Monday.
It bars the state Health Department from acting on SUNY Downstate Medical Center's request to close the Brooklyn hospital.
The judge said SUNY Downstate had failed to conduct a meaningful review of the closure plan before its board of trustees voted on it. It can't move with closure plans until it holds a new vote.
The trustees have voted twice now to close down the financially-strapped hospital. The hospital is run by SUNY Downstate.
The trustees said the institution was losing $1 million a week.
Unions representing hospital workers and physicians had sued the trustees. They called the latest ruling a victory.
Just last week, a public meeting was held in Red Hook, Brooklyn, where people spoke about how they were petitioning the New York State Health Department, which would have final say on whether the hospital will shut its doors.
A SUNY Downstate spokesman said it had adhered to all rules and regulations regarding the hospital closure procedure.
What do you think will ultimately happen to the hospital? Share your thoughts in the comments section below...
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