Previously disciplined Cape Breton doctor facing new allegations of poor patient care

A Cape Breton doctor who has been disciplined for past professional misconduct is facing new allegations of poor care from three patients.

The claims against Dr. Manivasan Moodley — which include failing to properly communicate with patients, improperly performing a surgical procedure, and performing one that was expressly against a patient's wishes — are scheduled to be heard next week by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia.

Moodley said the latest allegations were investigated by the college and should never have reached the hearing stage.

"These three complaints here are pure medical treatment and there's no merit and there's no substance in it," he said in a telephone interview Thursday. "I have experts that looked at the three cases and they support [me] and say nothing is wrong."

Moodley, whose medical training was done in his native South Africa, has been an obstetrician and gynecologist at Cape Breton Regional Hospital since 2017.

He said he feels that he is being targeted as a doctor of colour, and called the regulator's tactics bullying and harassment.

Previously suspended

Four years ago, the college heard complaints from two female patients that Moodley had made inappropriate sexual remarks to them.

His licence was suspended for five months and he was ordered to pay $325,000 to the college.

Moodley also had to take ethics training and have a health-care professional with him during all future appointments.

According to the college's registrar, the hearing on those charges was nearly derailed by a public rally in support of Moodley.

On its website, the college has published new allegations involving three patients.

No one from the college returned a request for comment.

One of the complaints, from 2017, claims Moodley made inappropriate comments about a patient's wishes to undergo a tubal ligation to prevent pregnancy.

According to the allegation, the doctor failed to inform the patient of the risks and benefits and instead suggested her future husband might want to have a say in the matter.

It claims he tried "in a sexist or paternalistic manner" to discourage the patient from having the procedure and allegedly interfered in the college's investigation by contacting a potential witness.

In 2020, two other patients complained about episiotomies, which is a surgical cut made between the vagina and anus during childbirth.

One claim says it was not medically indicated and that Moodley failed in several other areas of care, including documentation.

Eight days set aside

The other claim asserts an episiotomy was expressly opposed by the patient and was done without consent.

That patient also allegedly had her placenta removed manually when it might not have been necessary and was not given any pain medication.

That case also includes claims that Moodley was not collaborative with nurses, failed to properly document the patient care and provided "inaccurate, incomplete or misleading information to the college's investigation committee."

The college has set aside eight days to hear the complaints at its office in Bedford starting Monday.

MORE TOP STORIES