Notification to Sponsor and Supervisor of a Complaint Regarding a Physician on the Conditional Register

Preamble

The Medical Act¹ and Medical Practitioners Regulations² state that the purpose and duties 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 medical profession in the ability of the College to regulate the practice of medicine.

Purpose

This policy describes the due processes undertaken by the College in the event a complaint is initiated by the Registrar or received from an external source regarding a physician on the Conditional Register³ who is subject to sponsorship and/or supervision.

Scope

This policy applies to all physicians registered on the Conditional Register who are subject to sponsorship and/or supervision. This group of physicians includes those on a Defined licence, Restricted licence, Clinical Assistant licence, or Academic licence.

Policy

If a complaint is received against a physician registered on the Conditional Register who is subject to sponsorship and/or supervision, the College will notify the physician’s Sponsor and/or Supervisor of the complaint. Only the general nature of the complaint will be disclosed at the time of notification. The physician 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 and/or Supervisor at the discretion of the Registrar.

Once the complaint has been resolved:

• The physician and their Sponsor will be provided with a copy of the full decision; and
• The physician’s Supervisor will be advised of the complaint outcome and any disciplinary findings that are publicly available.

Resources

1. Nova Scotia Medical Act
2. Medical Practitioners Regulations
3. Conditional Register – Medical Practitioners Regulations