ALBANY — Albany’s sprawling Catholic hospital network is taking heat from the local diocese over its decision to close Burdett Birth Center at Samaritan Hospital in Troy.
The Albany Roman Catholic Diocese leadership has jurisdiction over St. Peter’s Health Partners and is tasked with ensuring the health system complies with Catholic teachings and values.
Albany Diocese Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger on Wednesday slammed the “disastrous” plan for Burdett — which is the only maternity ward in Rensselaer County and serves a disproportionate share of poor and uninsured patients.
“The chilling impact on moms and babies that would result from the proposed closure of the Burdett Birth Center in Troy is of great concern to me,” Scharfenberger said in a statement. “The disastrous, long-range economic and societal consequences of placing further burdens on parents bringing human lives into the world is clear.”
A spokesperson for St. Peter’s said that the hospital system currently has no comment, but St. Peter’s officials would meet with Scharfenberger Thursday afternoon.
Burdett is part of Samaritan Hospital, which merged with St. Peter’s Hospital in 2011, creating the St. Peter’s Health Partners network. The network was later absorbed by Michigan-based health care conglomerate Trinity Health, although it has a locally controlled board.
Catholic health care systems are governed by ethical and religious directives set by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The directives include limits around abortion, reproductive care and end-of-life services. They also require that hospitals pay particular attention to the health care needs of the poor and uninsured.
A Catholic hospital “should distinguish itself by service to and advocacy for those people whose social condition puts them at the margins of our society,” the…
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