Judge's temporary order against Grady halts dialysis clinic's closing

Judge's temporary order against Grady halts dialysis clinic's closing

By Shelia M. Poole

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
10:53 a.m. Thursday, September 17, 2009

A Fulton County Superior Court judge on Wednesday granted a temporary restraining order against Grady Memorial Hospital Corp. to prevent it from closing the Grady outpatient dialysis clinic.

The request was sought against Grady Memorial Hospital Corp. by Jane Doe I and II and on behalf of other plaintiffs.

The order said the plaintiffs showed “the likelihood that plaintiffs will suffer irrevocable injury unless this court intervenes.”

The order prevents Grady participating in efforts to get patients currently receiving dialysis treatments to discontinue their treatments at Grady, including encouraging them to move to other states, return to their countries of origin or seek dialysis alternatively through emergency room admission, until a suitable alternative treatment plan is approved by the court subject to a hearing.

Grady declined to comment.

“This is a first-step victory for the patients,” said Dorothy Leone-Glasser, a leader of the group, The Grady Advocates for Responsible Care, which helped lead a recent protest against the clinic’s planned closing. “At least I know they are going to get their dialysis and that’s the most important thing now.”

Grady Advocates is an alliance of physicians, medical care providers, patients, human rights organizations and patients advocates that was formed out of concern for Grady patients.

Find this article at:

http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/judges-temporary-order-against-140493.html