N.S. gynecologist found guilty of professional misconduct for a second time

A Cape Breton-based gynecologist has been found guilty of professional misconduct relating to the care of two female patients.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia ruled in a recent decision that Dr. Manivasan Moodley acted inappropriately toward two of three women who filed complaints about their care during their time as his patients between 2017 and 2020.

The allegations of the three women, whose identities are protected by a publication ban, were investigated by a panel that held hearings over 15 days in 2024 and 2025.

The panel dismissed all allegations of the third complainant.

“It's a very difficult process to step forward and bring a complaint,” said Dr. Gus Grant, the college's registrar and CEO.

“The complainants had nothing to gain from this, rather they, by bringing the complaint forward, they sought to protect future patients and to preserve the integrity of the medical profession.”

The panel's investigation found that Moodley performed an episiotomy during one woman’s labour and delivery, contrary to her expressed wishes, and then failed to inform the woman that he had performed the procedure. An episiotomy involves making an incision to provide more space for the baby's head during delivery.

In the second case, the college heard from a patient who testified Moodley refused to perform a tubal ligation to prevent her from having children. The college found that Moodley did not respect the woman's autonomy regarding her reproductive health by suggesting it was her future husband’s decision to make.

Moodley, who is of South Asian descent and moved to Canada from South Africa, has denied all of the claims against him and said in a statement emailed to CBC News that he did not get a fair hearing.

"It is clear that race played a huge role in [how] they treated me," Moodley said. "They showed no regard to me as a professional, my family and patients.

"As my lawyer stated in the closing arguments, the panel and College treated me in a deplorable manner and with disdain."

During the hearing, Moodley submitted a written argument explaining that he had an honest but mistaken belief he had been given consent to perform the episiotomy.

Moodley told CBC News that in the complaint about the tubal ligation, he had been giving the woman time to think about her options.

Moodley was also found guilty in 2020 of professional misconduct. He was suspended for five months and ordered to pay $325,000 to the college after another hearing found he did not respect the sexual boundaries of two female patients.

A hearing next month will determine what, if any, new sanctions Moodley will face.

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