A dispute over condoms and Catholic values has left Greenwich Village without an urgent care clinic six months after St. Vincent's Hospital closed its doors in bankruptcy.
North Shore/Long Island Jewish Medical Center received a $9 million grant from the state to open a clinic in the West Village - likely in the now-abandoned St. Vincent's emergency room.
But sources familiar with negotiations say St. Vincent's leaders have insisted that the new facility abide by Catholic directives - including an agreement not to counsel patients about birth control.
Terry Lynam, a spokesman for North Shore/LIJ, would not confirm that birth control was the holdup, but said, "The terms presented to us pose some significant problems."
He said negotiations are continuing.
Religion and Healthcare Do not Mix, Part 1 Million
What could be more healthcare-y than depriving patients of medical information and treatment in the name of religious doctrine?