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Hearing & Investigation Committee Decisions

  • College Announces Decision Regarding Dr. George Richardson

    The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia hereby gives notice that as a result of a complaint and pursuant to the Nova Scotia Medical Act, Dr. George Richardson has agreed to a six-month suspension of his registration and medical license.

    A Hearing Committee has accepted this agreement. Dr. Richardson committed professional misconduct by having sexual intercourse with a vulnerable patient in 1990. He also lacked candour in a letter to the Registrar of the Medical Board in 1990 when he failed to disclose the sexual intercourse. The reasons for the Hearing Committee’s decision are below.

    Read the Hearing Committee Decision (PDF)


  • College Announces Decision Regarding Dr. Ronald Matsusaki

    The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia hereby gives notice that a consensual reprimand has been agreed upon between the Investigation Committee and Dr. Matsusaki, regarding Dr. Matsusaki’s breach of the College’s requirement to maintain the confidentiality of all materials gathered during the investigation of a complaint.

    Summary of the Decision


  • College Announces Decision Regarding Dr. Lisa Dearman

    The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia hereby gives notice that a Hearing Committee has issued a decision dated November 23, 2021, accepting a Settlement Agreement under subsection 103(1) of the Medical Act.

    The Hearing Committee accepted the following sanctions:

    • Dr. Dearman’s licence to practice medicine is suspended for a two week period. (Following the issuing of the decision, it was agreed that the two week suspension would take place between November 28- December 12, 2021, inclusive).
    • In addition, a previous restriction imposed by the Hearing Committee that Dr. Dearman shall post a sign in all clinic waiting rooms and examination rooms where she sees patients, advising she is restricted from prescribing narcotic medications, shall remain in effect at all times while she is engaging in the practice of medicine.

    Read the Hearing Committee decision.


  • College Announces Decision Regarding Satisfaction of Requirements of Prior Sanction Decision Respecting Dr. Manivasan Moodley

    The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia hereby gives notice that a Hearing Committee has issued a decision dated October 27, 2021 addressing whether Dr. Moodley had met certain requirements of  its previous decision dated May 20, 2021.  In the May, 2021 decision, the Hearing Committee required  Dr. Moodley to complete an ethics training program, as agreed between himself and the College prior to his return to practice following his period of suspension.

    In its October 27, 2021 decision, the Hearing Committee concluded that the course completed by Dr. Moodley in September, 2021 satisfied this requirement.

    Read the Hearing Committee decision.


  • College Announces Decision Regarding Dr. Rafid Sabah Al-Nassar

    The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia hereby gives notice that as a result of a complaint and pursuant to the Nova Scotia Medical Act, Dr. Rafid Sabah Al-Nassar has agreed to a consensual revocation.

    A hearing committee has accepted this agreement resulting in the revocation of Dr. Al-Nassar’s registration and medical license.

    Read the hearing committee’s decision here.


  • College announces Decision Regarding Dr. Harvey Damacen

    The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia hereby gives notice that  a Hearing Committee has issued a decision dated March 5, 2021, accepting a Settlement Agreement under subsection 103(1) of the Medical Act.   

    The Hearing Committee accepted the following sanctions:

    • Dr. Damacen is reprimanded;
    • Dr. Damacen’s certificate of registration shall be suspended for a period of nine(9) months, less 17 days for time served in 2018; and
    • Dr. Damacen’s period of suspension will be served beginning December 1, 2020, and ending August 15, 2021.

    Read the Hearing Committee Decision.


  • College announces Decision Regarding Dr. Najeeb Kadir

    The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia hereby gives notice that  a Hearing Committee has issued a decision dated December 14, 2020, accepting a Settlement Agreement under subsection 103(1) of the Medical Act.   

    In the Settlement Agreement, Dr. Najeeb Kadir, of Amherst, Nova Scotia admitted to engaging in a sexual relationship with a patient, and that such conduct constituted professional misconduct and conduct unbecoming.

    The Hearing Committee accepted that the following sanctions were appropriate:

    1. Dr. Kadir’s licence to practice medicine is suspended for a period of 18 months.  The suspension is retroactive to September 17, 2019, the date Dr. Kadir removed himself from practice in connection with this matter;
    2. Dr. Kadir must complete a professional boundaries course approved by the College, prior to returning to practice.

    In addition, Dr. Kadir must pay the amount of $30,000 to the College as a contribution to the College’s costs arising from its involvement in this matter.

    The Hearing Committee was satisfied that the proposed agreement was appropriate in all  the circumstances.  It noted that the subject matter of this complaint occurred prior to the approval of the College’s revised Policy on Sexual Misconduct on March 27, 2020, such that the requirement to seek mandatory sanctions as set out in that Policy were not applicable to this case.

    In order to protect the identity of the patient, only this abbreviated version of the Hearing Committee’s Decision will be published on the College’s website.


  • College Announces Decision Regarding Dr. Martin Fleckenstein

    The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia hereby gives notice that as a result of a complaint and pursuant to the Nova Scotia Medical Act, Dr. Martin Fleckenstein has agreed to a reprimand and is subject to conditions and restrictions specified in the decision.

    Read the Investigation Committee decision.


  • College Announces Decision Regarding Dr. Manivasan Moodley

    The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia hereby gives notice that as a result of two complaints and pursuant to the Nova Scotia Medical Act, an independent Hearing Committee has found Dr. Manivasan Moodley engaged in professional misconduct.  The decision is available here.

    The Hearing Committee will set a date to reconvene to determine sanctions to be imposed as a result of this finding.

    **May 25, 2021 Update: College Announces Decision on Sanction and Costs Regarding Dr. Manivasan Moodley


  • College Announces Decision Regarding Dr. Graeme Bethune

    The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia hereby gives notice that as a result of a complaint and pursuant to the Nova Scotia Medical Act, Dr. Graeme Bethune has agreed to have his license to practice medicine revoked.

    A Hearing Committee has accepted a consent revocation agreement proposed by Dr. Graeme Bethune with the consent of the Registrar. Dr. Bethune committed professional misconduct by engaging in an inappropriate personal relationship with a vulnerable patient. The Hearing Committee was satisfied that the proposed agreement was appropriate in the circumstances. The Committee determined that its reasons for decision are subject to a publication ban to protect the patient.