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Hearing & Investigation Committee Decisions

  • College Announces Decisions Respecting Process for Hearing of Complaints Against Dr. Manivasan Moodley

    On March 3, 2023 the Hearing Committee of the College rendered a decision respecting a procedural challenge brought by Dr. Manivasan Moodley respecting the hearing of three complaints filed against him.  

    The College’s Investigation Committee had previously referred matters arising from three separate patient complaints  to a formal hearing. The Registrar issued a Notice of Hearing to have the three complaints heard in one hearing process.   The specific allegations in the Notice of Hearing were formulated differently from the referral language used by the Investigation Committee.  

    Dr. Moodley brought a motion before the Hearing Committee alleging the Registrar did not have jurisdiction to refer three matters to be heard together, or to frame the allegations in different words from those used by the  Investigation Committee in its referral decisions.   In the alternative, he argued the three complaints should be severed (i.e., there should be  three separate hearings before three separate Committees).

    The Hearing Committee ruled the Registrar had the authority to refer the three complaints to be heard in one hearing,  and also had the authority to formulate the allegations in the Notice of Hearing in language different from that  specifically used in the Investigation Committee’s referral decisions.  The Committee further ruled that the legal test for severance had not been met. 

    Read the decision of the Hearing Committee.

    Dr. Moodley appealed this decision of the Hearing Committee to the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.

    In a decision rendered on October 12, 2023 the Court of Appeal confirmed the Registrar had the authority to issue the Notice of Hearing in the manner he did.  The Court  further confirmed the Hearing Committee had the authority to hear the three separately referred matters in one consolidated hearing. 


    Read the decision of the Court of Appeal.

    The College will post notice of the hearing dates for the hearing of these matters when the dates are finalized.

  • College Announces Decision Regarding Dr. Michelle Ciach

    The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia gives notice that a Hearing Committee has issued a decision dated August 4, 2023, accepting a Settlement Agreement under subsection 103(1) of the Medical Act.

    In the Settlement Agreement, Dr. Michelle Ciach admitted she engaged in professional misconduct by creating a false record when she signed a death certificate and included a cause of death when, in fact, the patient had not died.  She also admitted to professional misconduct for forging colleagues’ signatures on prescriptions for herself and a family member. Dr. Ciach agreed to a suspension of her medical licence for a period of six months (which she voluntarily began serving on July 1, 2023, in advance of the Hearing Committee’s decision) and a condition requiring successful completion of a course on Ethics. Dr. Ciach also agreed to contribute to the College’s costs of the investigation of the complaint.

    Read the Hearing Committee’s decision.

  • College Announces Decision Regarding Dr. Amy Wambolt

    The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia hereby gives notice that as a result of a complaint respecting patient care, Dr. Amy Wambolt has agreed to a consensual reprimand, and to make a contribution to the costs of the College’s investigation. 

    Read a summary of the Investigation Committee decision. 

  • College Announces Decision Regarding Dr. Franklyn Vincent

    The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia hereby gives notice that as a result of a complaint respecting the writing of an unsolicited opinion letter, Dr. Franklyn Vincent has agreed to a consensual reprimand, and to make a contribution to the costs of the College’s investigation. 

    Read a summary of the Investigation Committee decision.

  • College Announces Decision Regarding Dr. Jose Ramirez-Morejon

    The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia hereby gives notice that a Hearing Committee has issued a decision dated August 8, 2022, accepting a Settlement Agreement under subsection 103(1) of the Medical Act.

    In the Settlement Agreement, Dr. Ramirez-Morejon admitted to particulars of a pattern of conduct over a period of six months, which amounted to sexual harassment of a colleague in his workplace. In addition to agreeing to make a contribution to the College’s costs of the investigation of the complaint, Dr. Ramirez-Morejon  agreed to a reprimand, a suspension of his Clinical Assistant Licence for a period of two months (which has already been served), and a condition requiring successful completion of a course on Ethics and Boundaries. 

    Read the Hearing Committee’s decision.

  • 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.

Directory of Disciplinary Decisions

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