Thank you to all of you for signing the petition to support Dr. Pelser. While Sam Oostenhoff MPP is in touch with the College, we need to keep the pressure on. We need to let the College know we are not going away until they reverse their decision. Let's fill the College's inbox. Please copy and past the attached letter into your email program, sign it and send it to cpso@cpso.on.ca Thank you and have a great weekend. Concerning the licence renewal of Dr. Duane Pelser of Fonthill, Ontario An additional thousand patients are now without a family doctor thanks to a decision by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Ontario over administration errors. So, make the Niagara Region’s doctor shortage about 61* now. Our family Doctor - Dr. Duane Pelser - was forced to close his recently formed solo practice and was told by ‘The College’ that he had to re-apply for his licence as a NEW doctor. To add further insult, the committee does not meet again until December and they cannot guarantee approval. Who made this asinine decision? When The College was contacted by local MPP Sam Oosterhoff’s office, they quoted privacy issues and listed their supposed attempts at notifying Dr. Pelser of his licence expiry and informed them that “In the meantime, the College has recommended that should you require a new family physician, you may contact their Advisory Services Department at 1-800-268-7096 ext. 603 and they will try and assist you in finding a doctor in your area who is accepting patients.” Excuse us? There is a doctor shortage, there are only a handful of doctors accepting new patients and most are a good 30 minute drive from here. Plus, we already have a family doctor - his name is Dr. Pelser. Because of this petty decision, all specialist appointments requested by Dr. Pelser are null and void, so after waiting months these patients now have to start over. Outstanding prescription renewals are now cancelled. What about these people? The College has placed some of these patients in a LIFE and DEATH situation. Dr. Pelser is an excellent physician who cares for his patients. He moved from a group practice (Welland McMaster Medical Centre) to a solo practice earlier this year to better serve his patients. He consistently receives high ratings (Dr. D. Pelser has a 4.6/5 rating from patients) on the rateMDs site. Dr. Pelser readily admits he was preoccupied with opening the new office and that he was at fault for not remembering that his licence needed to be renewed, nor did he read the fine print on the website stating that he had to notify The College in writing of his new contact information. The college insists they emailed Dr. Pelser reminders prior to the June 1st deadline, but he never received them as they were most likely sent to his old email address. The College claims they never “bounced back”. Wanting to do everything properly, Dr. Pelser was in almost daily contact (by phone) with the College when his solo practice first opened in April. The College even sent “new patient sign up forms” to his office using his new street address. As soon as he discovered his licence was overdue he sent his payment along with the penalty payment within the 30 day grace period. The College assured him everything would be updated within 48 hours. He believed the College so he continued to take care of his patients. Now the College claims he was practicing medicine without a licence and has forbid him to go near his office. We believe The College needs to be accountable for their decision to force a solo physician out of business for administrative errors on both sides, and endangering the lives of his patients. If the College feels there needs to be a punitive decision made against Dr. Pelser, they need to choose another method that does not take away his livelihood and endangers his patients’ lives. All of Dr. Pelser's patients want Dr. Pelser back doing what he does best - taking care of his patients now. Please reinstate Dr. Pelser's licence immediately! * The Standard, July 12, 2017 “Doctor Shortage Persists In Niagara”