Notification to sponsor and/or supervisor of a complaint regarding a registrant on the conditional register

Approved

May 23, 2025

Preamble

The objects of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (the College) are:

  1. to serve and protect the public interest in the practice of medicine, and
  2. to preserve the integrity and maintain public confidence of the public and the profession in the ability of the College to regulate the practice of medicine.

Purpose

This policy describes the processes of the College when a complaint is initiated by the Registrar or received from an external source regarding a registrant on the Conditional Register1 who is subject to sponsorship and/or supervision.

Scope

This policy applies to all registrants on the Conditional Register who are subject to sponsorship and/or supervision.

This group of registrants includes those on a Defined licence, Clinical Assistant licence, Academic licence, Restricted licence, a Physician Assistant licence, or a Podiatrist licence.

Policy

If a complaint is received against a registrant registered on the Conditional Register who is subject to sponsorship and/or supervision, the College will notify the registrant’s sponsor and/or supervisor of the complaint.

If a complaint is received against an associate physician or a physician assistant, the College will notify their program director of the complaint.

Only the general nature of the complaint will be disclosed at the time of notification. The registrant subject to the complaint will be copied on the notification to their sponsor and/or supervisor. Further disclosure of information related to the complaint and the investigation will be provided to the sponsor, supervisor, and/or program director at the discretion of the Registrar.

Once the complaint has been resolved:

  • The registrant and their sponsor or program director will be provided with a copy of the full decision; and
  • The registrant’s supervisor will be advised of the outcome of the complaint and any disciplinary findings that are publicly available.

Resources

  1. Medical Act Regulations
Approved by:Assessment Committee & Council
Approval date(s):April 24, 2025 & May 23, 2025
Reviewed for accuracy:Annually
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The College acknowledges that we are in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship. We also acknowledge that people of African descent have been in Nova Scotia for over 400 years, and we honour and offer gratitude to those ancestors.