Bill 17: Medical Act (amended)

This bill primarily affects physicians and medical practitioners registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia who are the subject of a complaint involving sexual assault or sexual misconduct. In practical terms, a doctor running a family practice, specialist clinic, or any medical office in Nova Scotia would face new restrictions on how their legal or professional representatives can engage with the complaint process — specifically, they cannot reach out to the person who filed the complaint. The bill also shapes how the College itself must manage disclosure procedures in these cases. Solo practitioners and those in group practices alike are equally subject to these rules, and their legal counsel or other representatives must be aware of the no-contact requirement.