Provincial government should cancel contract with for-profit surgical clinic with ties to prisoner abuse

Wellness Within is raising concerns about the provincial government’s announcement last week to outsource surgeries to Scotia Surgery, which has ties to a dentist currently being charged with assaulting a man who was incarcerated in Gander, Newfoundland.

“Not only will outsourcing health services to private, for-profit companies deepen the crisis in our health care system, but by handing over public money to a company with links to prisoner abuse, the provincial government is sending a message that abusing people who are incarcerated is acceptable,” said Wellness Within Chair Martha Paynter. “Wellness Within is calling on the Nova Scotia government to denounce prisoner abuse and cancel the contract with Scotia Surgery.”

Louis Bouget, a director of Scotia Surgery and dental surgeon at two clinics that operate at Scotia Surgery, was charged in April 2021 with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon after allegations that he permitted a prison guard to perform a dental procedure on an incarcerated person who was sedated. The charges came after a video surfaced on social media of the incident. Bourget has admitted to “unprofessional conduct, infamous conduct, and breach of, or failure to, observe the Code of Ethics” and his license to practice was temporarily suspended by the Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia.

“People who are incarcerated do not have access to adequate health care and are vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment within prisons in Canada. Allegations of abuse against people who are incarcerated must be taken seriously.” said Paynter.

Wellness Within is a volunteer-based registered non-profit organization that serves women, transgender, and nonbinary people who have experienced criminalization and are pregnant or have young children.

Media Contact:

Martha Paynter, Chair, 9022927082, martha.paynter@gmail.com