Dr. Arshia Haqani, an internationally trained family physician from Iran, has filed an application in the Court of King’s Bench against Horizon Health Network and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick. The legal action follows the shutdown of her Moncton practice this past summer after her supervising doctor resigned, leaving approximately 750 patients without a primary care provider.
Supervised Practice Mandates Disrupt Continuity of Care
- Supervised Practice Mandate: Internationally trained physicians in New Brunswick must complete a designated period of supervised practice under a special licence before transitioning to independent licensure.
- Continuity of Care Disruption: When a supervising physician resigns or is removed, provisional licences can default to non-practicing status, abruptly halting patient care regardless of the physician’s clinical competency.
Court Filings Challenge Regulatory Decisions and Health Network Sponsorship
Dr. Haqani’s application asks the court to quash a series of decisions made by both Horizon Health Network and the provincial medical college. As part of the first cohort of the Practice Ready Assessment New Brunswick (PRA-NB) program, Haqani was celebrated alongside Premier Susan Holt in March 2025. She subsequently accepted a fee-for-service family physician position with Horizon Health Network in February 2025, operating as a hospitalist at The Moncton Hospital while establishing her community practice under supervision.
According to court documents, her initial supervisor was replaced in May 2025 due to a conflict of interest stemming from a dual role as a community colleague and a hospital department chief. By May 2026, Haqani received notification of a suspension from hospitalist shifts tied to complaints regarding professionalism. Simultaneously, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick noted that while two satisfactory supervision reports had been received, they identified areas for continued professional development.
Supervisory Resignations and the Halt of Community Practice
The administrative breakdown intensified on July 3, 2026, when the college informed Haqani that her licence status had been changed to non-practicing following the resignation of her second supervisor. Although encouraged to find a replacement, Horizon Health Network notified Haqani on July 13, 2026, that it was unable to provide a suitable supervisor or continue supporting her training.
Haqani subsequently requested a regular or defined licence, having practiced under supervision for nearly 13 months, albeit with brief absences for family matters in Iran. The college rejected the request, stating she had not successfully completed the mandatory supervision period. Ashleigh Plourde, who served as Haqani’s clinic administrator, noted that approximately 750 patients were left without a family doctor when the practice was forced to close.
| Timeline Milestone | Regulatory Event | Administrative Status |
|---|---|---|
| March 2025 | PRA-NB Program Recognition | Lauded as part of the first cohort alongside provincial dignitaries. |
| February 2025 | Horizon Health Network Placement | Accepted fee-for-service position and established Moncton practice under supervision. |
| May 2026 | Hospitalist Shift Suspension | Notified of suspension due to unspecified professionalism complaints. |
| July 2026 | Licence Status Alteration | Shifted to non-practicing after supervisor resignation; sponsorship subsequently withdrawn. |
Haqani Argues Licensing Decisions Were Procedurally Unfair
In her affidavit, Haqani outlined severe financial repercussions and argued that the decisions made by Horizon and the college were procedurally unfair. She maintained that she was never informed her sponsorship was in jeopardy before receiving the July 13 notice. She also contended that the college's decision not to consider her completion of 12 months of supervised practice is unfairly and unreasonably based on its own failure to adequately resource its assessors and supervisors, or its failure to enforce supervisors’ compliance with reporting requirements.
Both Horizon Health Network and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick declined to comment on the allegations, citing the ongoing legal action in the Court of King’s Bench. No formal responses have been filed to the application.
References
- Court application documents filed in the Court of King’s Bench (October 2026).
- College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick regulatory guidelines and licensing bylaws.
- Horizon Health Network medical staff bylaws and practice-ready assessment program frameworks.
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