A Quebec Superior Court judge has rejected a request for an injunction to temporarily keep the gynecology clinic at Lachine Hospital from closing.
Justice Michèle Monast said on Tuesday that she understands how the decision to shutter the clinic may cause concern among patients but that she is satisfied with the provisions the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) has taken.
READ MORE: Lachine Hospital doctor, patients head to court to save gynecology clinic
A doctor and patients at the hospital sought a temporary injunction to keep the department open after learning the MUHC would close it in April.
Under the plan, the MUHC is referring all gynecology patients to the neighbouring hospital in LaSalle. The plaintiffs argued the decision to shuffle patients would hurt health-care services for women in the area.
READ MORE: Physicians consider legal action to save gynecology clinic at Lachine Hospital
In court on Monday, the plaintiffs’ lawyer said patients and specialists received little information about the closure and transferring of files to LaSalle. However, the legal counsel representing the MUHC said the LaSalle Hospital is ready to receive new patients.
Dr. Paul Saba, president of the Lachine Hospital’s council of physicians, helped spearhead the fight to save the clinic. He said he is disappointed by the ruling.
“What is sad about this is that the administration has been doing everything to close the clinic at the Lachine Hospital without assuring that patients actually have followups,” he said. “There are lots of promises, lots of assurances but, in fact, everywhere on the island of Montreal there is a shortage of gynecological services.”
The one victory worth celebrating, according to Saba, is that the ruling will force the MUHC to guarantee that patients’ files will be transferred to LaSalle.
WATCH: Gynecology clinic set to close on April 1
—With files from Global News’ Gloria Henriquez
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