Medical College Refuses Investigation Request Due to Limited Authority
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan has declined the provincial government's request to investigate the Dr. Goodenowe Restorative Health Centre in Moose Jaw, citing lack of statutory authority to pursue non-licensed practitioners.
The province's appeal came following concerns about what appears to be unauthorized medical practice at the facility, where founder Dayan Goodenowe claims to halt and reverse ALS symptoms through a costly three-month residential program.
Regulatory Gaps Exposed
Bryan Salte, associate registrar and legal counsel with the college, explained that current legislation provides insufficient tools to investigate businesses operating without medical licenses. "The Medical Profession Act, 1981 does not provide the tools necessary to deal effectively with a business that practises medicine without a licence," Salte stated.
The case highlights fundamental weaknesses in provincial oversight. While the college can investigate licensed physicians, it lacks authority to pursue non-doctors allegedly practicing medicine. The maximum penalty for unlicensed practice stands at merely $5,000, hardly a deterrent for operations generating substantial revenue.
Tragic Consequences
The investigation request followed the case of Susie Silvestri, a 70-year-old American ALS patient who paid $84,000 US for Goodenowe's program. Despite promises of improvement, her condition deteriorated during treatment, and she died in December 2024.
Goodenowe, who acknowledges he is not a medical doctor, maintains his facility does not provide medical treatment. However, he offers what he terms "biochemical restoration" through systematic supplement protocols.
Alternative Enforcement Paths
Salte noted that other provinces handle such situations more effectively. Some jurisdictions empower medical colleges to seek statutory injunctions, which prove "quicker, cheaper and more effective than prosecuting a person for the unlicensed practice of medicine."
In Saskatchewan, prosecution remains possible through the Ministry of Justice under The Summary Offences Procedure Act, 1990, though this path requires provincial court proceedings.
The case underscores the need for stronger regulatory frameworks to protect vulnerable patients from potentially harmful unlicensed medical practices while ensuring proper oversight of healthcare services.