Please copy and paste the following letter to infoline.moh@ontario.ca Let's fill the inbox so they have to acknowledge us! Thank you. Dear Hon. Dr. Eric Hoskins, The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is the body that regulates the practice of medicine to protect and serve the public interest. This system of self-regulation is based on the premise that the College must act first and foremost in the interest of the public. Does this sound familiar? It should, it is the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s mandate. So please explain to us, the 1000 or more patients that no longer have a family physician, why Dr. Duane Pelser of Fonthill cannot have his licence returned immediately. He did not commit an act of professional misconduct, fail to maintain the standard of practice of the profession or act in a way that is unbecoming to the medical profession. Dr. Pelser readily admits he was preoccupied with opening his 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 CPSO 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 CPSO when his solo practice first opened in April. The CPSO 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 CPSO assured him everything would be updated within 48 hours. When the computer was not updated within that timeframe, Dr. Pelser was told he would have to apply for a new license, as if he were a new doctor, and that his application wouldn’t be considered until December and would not be guaranteed to be renewed. So now in an area where there is already a shortage of 62 doctors, we have lost the best family physician this area has ever had. The fallout of this: all specialist referrals have been cancelled, ongoing visits to specialists have been cancelled, follow up visits are cancelled, medication cannot be renewed, test requisitions are voided, test results have nowhere to go…. We have emailed numerous times and sent petitions to the CPSO and they do not even have the courtesy to acknowledge our request. We realize that your Ministry does not want to become involved in registration matters as this may be interpreted as breaching the independence and integrity of the legislated authority of the CPSO, so we as taxpayers of Ontario request and authorize you to look into this matter and facilitate a quick return of Dr. Pelser’s licence. For some of us this is a life and death situation and for all of us, we would like our Dr. Pelser back immediately. Sincerely, Patients of Dr. D. Pelser Fonthill, Ontario