PETITION TO THE PEOPLE OF NOVA SCOTIA

Your Doctor. Your Choice. Your Voice.

 

Should every patient in Nova Scotia have confidence that all physicians are treated fairly, equally, and without bias by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia?

We, the undersigned patients, families, healthcare professionals, and members of the public, believe that every person in Nova Scotia deserves a healthcare system that is fair, transparent, accountable, and trustworthy.

Many patients have expressed concern about the disciplinary proceedings involving Dr. Manivasan Moodley. This petition is not asking the public to decide whether Dr. Moodley or any other complainant is right or wrong. 

Instead, this petition asks a broader and more important question:

Are the disciplinary processes used by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia applied fairly, consistently, proportionately, and without bias to every physician?

This issue extends far beyond the circumstances of one doctor. It concerns public confidence in the system responsible for regulating all physicians in Nova Scotia.

Many members of the public believe the College currently lacks sufficient independent oversight. They are concerned that important procedural decisions are concentrated within the organization's internal leadership, without external accountability. Without meaningful independent review, concerns have arisen regarding procedural fairness, institutional bias, consistency, and natural justice.

When disciplinary decisions can significantly affect access to healthcare, it is especially important that every physician is held to the same standards, regardless of their specialty, practice location, or the number of patients affected.

According to the current disciplinary proceedings, the College is seeking significant sanctions against Dr. Moodley, including a lengthy suspension, substantial legal costs reportedly amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and mandatory education related to patient communication and respect for patient autonomy.

 

Many of Dr. Moodley's patients are concerned that these proposed sanctions could significantly reduce their access to specialist healthcare in Cape Breton. They believe these concerns deserve to be heard while the disciplinary process continues.

Dr. Moodley provides care in one of the busiest Obstetrics and Gynecology practices in Cape Breton. He cares for pregnant women, patients awaiting gynecological surgery, and many others requiring ongoing specialist treatment. His referral list extends well into the future. Dr Moodley’s absence will further delay treatment for his patients.

If Dr. Moodley is unable to practise for an extended period, many patients fear they may lose access to the physician they know and trust. They are concerned about:

·         Cancelled surgeries

·         Interruptions in prenatal care

·         Longer wait times

·         Increased travel for medical treatment

·         Additional pressure on Nova Scotia's already strained healthcare system

Fair, consistent, and impartial disciplinary processes are essential to maintaining both public confidence and access to healthcare. A regulatory system that applies the same standards equally to every physician helps protect continuity of care, patient choice, and the stability of the healthcare system.

This petition respectfully requests an independent judicial review to determine whether the disciplinary processes of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia are applied:

·         Fairly

·         Consistently

·         Proportionately

·         Without bias

The review should also examine whether physicians who received their medical education outside Canada experience different disciplinary outcomes than physicians trained within Canada under similar circumstances. If differences exist, the public deserves to understand why. If no differences exist, an independent review will strengthen public confidence in the fairness of the regulatory process.

Every physician—regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, or where they received their medical education—should have confidence that they will be judged according to the same rules, same standards, and same principles of procedural fairness.

To protect these principles, there should be a clear opportunity for independent review of College’s decisions whenever appropriate, ensuring oversight, transparency, and accountability. These principles are fundamental to maintaining public trust in Nova Scotia's healthcare system.

When patients begin to question whether disciplinary decisions are made fairly and consistently, confidence in the healthcare system is weakened. The best way to strengthen that confidence is through an independent, transparent, and objective judicial review.

 

We respectfully call upon:

·         The Office of the Prime Minister of Canada

·         The Government of Canada

·         The Government of Nova Scotia

To:

·         Request and support an independent judicial review of the disciplinary practices, procedures, and governance of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia.

·         Determine whether the College's disciplinary processes are applied fairly, consistently, proportionately, and without bias.

·         Examine whether physicians are treated equally regardless of where they received their medical education, their race, ethnicity, or background.

·         Ensure that every physician is subject to identical regulatory standards, recognizing that fair and impartial disciplinary processes are essential to protecting patient access to healthcare, continuity of care, and patient choice.

·         Establish formal opportunities for independent review of College’s decisions, providing meaningful oversight and preventing unchecked procedural authority.

·         Make recommendations to improve transparency, accountability, procedural fairness, consistency, and public confidence in the regulation of physicians in Nova Scotia.

This petition is about more than one case.

·         It is about ensuring that every physician is treated fairly, under the same rules, and according to the same standards.

·         It is about protecting fairness, transparency, accountability, equal treatment, and public confidence in Nova Scotia's healthcare system.

·         If you believe these principles matter, we respectfully ask you to sign this petition in support of an independent judicial review.