Court orders Central Health to reconsider hospital privileges for Dr. Todd Young

A Springdale doctor who is fighting to get his hospital privileges back after being disciplined for inappropriate conduct will get another chance to make his case.

The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador has ruled that Dr. Todd Young did not get a fair chance to review and respond to the information used by the Central Health Authorityto deny him privileges.

• 'It's gonna take someone's life': Springdale patients rally to support Dr. Todd Young
• Springdale doctor frustrated by Central Health

In a decision released Wednesday, Justice William Goodridgeruled that Young's application be reconsidered and thatDr. Jeff Cole,vice-president of medical services with Central Health,have no involvement with the newhearing.

It is the latest chapter in a long battle between Young and the health authority, a battle that saw patients rally in support of the Springdale doctor after he was disciplined for having sex with a former patient.

Young withdrew from practice in April 2014after admitting to a three-year relationship with a former patient.

He also admitted to inappropriate conduct, which involved hugging and kissing,with a second patient.

When Young returned to work, after serving a 19-month suspension of his license and paying a $20,000 fine, he was told he could not admit patients to hospitals run by Central Health, or treat them inside the facilities.

Accusations of bias

Youngexpressed frustration at the time, sayingthe health authority had not given him full details on why it made the decision, or allowhim to make his case.

• Springdale doctor takes fight for hospital privileges to court

Arguing that the lack of hospital privileges made it difficult to practice medicine in a rural community, and that in his view the decision maker was biased,Young hired lawyer Jerome Kennedy to take the case to the Supreme Court.

The health authority argued during an April 2016 hearing that Young broke its trust,and that his past could make him a legal liability.

In ordering that Young's application be reconsidered, Justice Goodridge agreed that he had been denied "procedural fairness."

He addedYoung should have full disclosure of all the information used to make a decision his case, and have a reasonable opportunity to respond.