Report A Doctor: New Brunswick

If you have a complaint about a doctor in New Brunswick, you can contact the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick. The College will review written complaints in English or French about the conduct or care provided by a physician. Complaints are forwarded to the physician for comment, and records are sought from hospitals and other sources. When all the information is available, it is presented to the Complaints Committee, which makes a recommendation on the conduct or care provided. This is then forwarded to the Council of the College for approval. The process generally takes a few months. Before contacting the College, it is recommended that you first discuss the matter with a member of your care team, as this simple step is often enough to resolve the situation.

Write a formal complaint

To make a formal complaint about a doctor in New Brunswick, you can contact the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick. The College will review written complaints regarding the conduct or care provided by a physician. The complaint must clearly outline the issues being raised and can be submitted in English or French.

Upon receipt of the complaint, the College will forward it to the physician for comment and seek records from hospitals and other sources. When all the information is available, it is presented to the Complaints Committee, which makes a recommendation on the conduct or care provided. This is then forwarded to the Council of the College for approval. The entire process generally takes a few months.

Most complaints are resolved by the Complaints Committee. However, in more serious cases, the Committee may recommend a formal hearing before a Board of Inquiry. If there are ongoing concerns about a physician, the Review Committee of the College will conduct a more extensive investigation.

Before submitting a formal complaint, it is advisable to first discuss the matter with a member of your care team, such as a physician, nurse, or physiotherapist. This initial discussion may be sufficient to resolve the issue. If you are not satisfied with the response or wish to proceed with a formal complaint, you can contact the Quality and Patient Safety Department of the healthcare provider, such as by telephone, email, or in writing. They will explain the process for managing complaints, which is typically open and transparent, keeping you informed about the progress of your complaint.

Submit in English or French

To submit a complaint about a doctor in New Brunswick, you can contact the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick. The College will review any complaint regarding the conduct or care provided by a physician. Complaints can be submitted in English or French and must be in writing, clearly outlining the issues being raised. Upon receipt, the complaint will be forwarded to the physician in question for comment, and records will be requested from hospitals and other sources. Once all the information is gathered, it is presented to the Complaints Committee, which makes a recommendation on the conduct or care provided. This is then forwarded to the Council of the College for approval. The entire process generally takes a few months.

The Complaints Committee resolves the majority of complaints. For more serious matters, the Committee will recommend a formal hearing before a Board of Inquiry. If there are ongoing concerns about a physician, the Review Committee of the College will conduct a more extensive investigation.

You can also file a complaint with Ombud NB, which handles various types of complaints. Their website provides contact information and details on the different forms that may need to be filled out, depending on the nature of the complaint.

Include clear details

To make a complaint about a doctor in New Brunswick, you must submit a written statement to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick. This statement must clearly outline the issues you are raising in either English or French. It is important to provide as much detail as possible when describing the conduct or care provided by the physician that you are complaining about. This will help the College understand your concerns and enable them to conduct a thorough investigation.

In your complaint, be sure to include specific dates, times, and locations of the incidents you are referring to. If there were any witnesses present, provide their names and contact information. Describe the events in a clear and chronological order, and mention any relevant conversations or interactions you had with the doctor. If you have any physical evidence, such as medical reports, correspondence, or photos, be sure to include these as well.

Additionally, you should provide details about the impact the doctor's actions have had on you. This could include any physical, emotional, or psychological effects, as well as any financial or practical consequences. If you have sought additional medical treatment as a result of the doctor's actions, be sure to include this information.

It is also important to provide your own contact information, including your name, address, phone number, and email address, so that the College can easily reach you if they require further information.

Once the College receives your complaint, they will forward it to the physician for comment and seek records from hospitals and other sources. When all the information is gathered, it will be presented to the Complaints Committee, which will make a recommendation on the conduct or care provided. This recommendation will then be forwarded to the Council of the College for approval. The entire process generally takes a few months.

Expect a few months for a response

If you have a complaint about a doctor in New Brunswick, you can file a complaint with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick. The process of filing a complaint can vary depending on the specifics of your case.

The review process can take several months, and in some cases, even longer. Here's what you can expect in terms of the timeline for a response:

After submitting your complaint, you should receive an acknowledgment of receipt from the College. This usually happens within a few days to a couple of weeks. If you do not receive this acknowledgment, you should contact the College to ensure your complaint has been received.

The College will then review your complaint. This stage can take several weeks to a few months, depending on the complexity of the issue and the volume of complaints being handled by the College. During this stage, your complaint may be assigned to an investigator who will gather more information and conduct interviews.

If your complaint is about a matter that can be easily verified or addressed, such as a breach of privacy or a failure to follow up on test results, you may receive a response and see results within a few months. However, if your complaint is more complex and requires further investigation, it may take longer for the College to reach a resolution.

In some cases, the College may offer mediation to resolve the issue. This typically happens when the complaint is not about a matter of professional misconduct but rather a dispute that can be resolved through mutual agreement. Mediation can be requested at any time during the process and may expedite the resolution.

If your complaint is about an issue that the College deems to be serious professional misconduct, it may be referred to the Labour and Employment Board for a formal hearing. This step can also extend the timeline by several months, as the Board will conduct a thorough investigation and make a legally binding decision.

It's important to note that the entire process can be lengthy, and you should expect to wait a few months, or even up to a year or more, for a final resolution or response, especially if your complaint is complex or involves potential disciplinary action against the doctor.

Be aware of the possibility of a hearing

If you have a complaint about a doctor in New Brunswick, there are several avenues you can take. The first step is to assess who you should complain to. This could be directly to your healthcare provider, the hospital administrator, or the state licensing board. It depends on the nature of your complaint and how convinced you are that it was intentional.

For minor grievances, it is recommended to provide feedback directly to your healthcare provider. Talk to your provider about your expectations and concerns. If you notice an error in your medical record but your medical care has been good, you should bring it up with the healthcare provider and office staff, who will likely correct it to your satisfaction.

In the case of insulting behavior, you might prefer to talk to someone else on the team, such as your nurse, physician assistant, or another healthcare provider. They can look at things objectively and guide your healthcare provider to avoid repeating the problem. If the situation has bothered you so much that you don't want to see that healthcare provider again, be sure to tell the office staff why.

However, if any of the following situations apply, you should lodge a formal complaint:

• Discriminatory behavior: If you experienced insults or behavior directed at you because of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, or religion, you can take civil action, including contacting the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Unethical billing: If you suspect illegal or unethical billing practices, file an appeal with your health insurance company. If your appeal is denied, your healthcare provider may have a patient advocate who can help you for free. If you still can't find a resolution, contact your state's consumer assistance program or insurance department.
• Medical harm: If a medical error resulted in personal injury, hospitalization, disability, diminished quality of life, or death, report the matter to the hospital or practice manager. If you are seeking damages or planning to litigate, you will need to do this with an attorney.
• Quality-of-care complaint: File a complaint with your state medical board if you did not receive quality care. This can include medication errors, unnecessary or inappropriate surgery or treatment, not getting treatment after a change in your condition, early hospital discharge, and not receiving complete discharge instructions. File Medicare complaints with your Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organization (BFCC-QIO).
• Inappropriate sexual behavior: If your healthcare provider was sexually inappropriate or abusive, contact the state medical board and file a police report.

To file a formal complaint against your healthcare provider for unprofessional behavior, contact your state medical board. You can often file a complaint directly on their website, or you may need to write a letter. Keep your letter concise, remain objective, and state the action you would like to be taken.

After you file a complaint, it will be investigated and recorded, even if it is not deemed actionable. If multiple complaints are received and a pattern of behavior is established, serious action will be taken against the healthcare provider, which could temporarily or permanently interrupt their ability to practice.

Be aware that your complaint may lead to a hearing. In New Brunswick, some cases might be resolved through mediation or go up to a Board of Inquiry for a formal hearing, while others might be dismissed by the Director due to lack of evidence. If your complaint proceeds to a hearing, be prepared to present your case and provide any relevant evidence or documentation. You may also want to seek legal advice or representation to guide you through the process.

Frequently asked questions