Dr. Michael Rogelstad, an ophthalmologist, has lost his court challenge to regain hospital privileges at Strathroy hospital after refusing to comply with its COVID-19 vaccination policy 4 years ago. His appeal was dismissed by the Superior Court of Justice, which upheld the Middlesex Hospital Alliance’s decision to revoke his privileges.
Rogelstad’s privileges were terminated in December 2021 after he declined to follow the hospital’s mandatory vaccination policy introduced in September 2021. The policy was implemented in response to provincial directives, requiring all healthcare workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Rogelstad argued that the vaccine did not prevent virus transmission and chose not to comply.
The court dismissed his appeal, finding no significant error in the tribunal’s decision. Rogelstad was also ordered to pay $30,000 to cover the hospital’s legal costs.
While the ruling was not in his favor, the court left room for Rogelstad to reapply for hospital privileges, potentially challenging the vaccination policy in the process.
This marks the conclusion of a lengthy appeals process that included denials from both the hospital’s board of directors in April 2022 and the Health Professionals Appeal and Review Board in April 2024. The court focused on the policy’s reasonableness at the time of enforcement.
myFM has reached out to the Middlesex Hospital Alliance for comment.
Written by: C. Soares