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  Last modified Sept. 12, 2005  

Criminal Convictions

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In accordance with the Nursing Act, Ontario nurses are required to provide the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) with details of convictions of any criminal offences and/or information regarding disciplinary or incapacity proceedings from other governing bodies of which they have been the subject.

The regulations within the Nursing Act state:

It is a condition of a certificate of registration of any class that the member provide the College with details of any of the following that relate to the member and that occur or arise after the initial registration of the member:

  1. A finding of guilt for a criminal offence or an offence under the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act (Canada) [formerly the Narcotic Control Act (Canada)] or the Food and Drugs Act (Canada).
  2. A finding of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity whether in Ontario or in another jurisdiction and whether in relation to the nursing profession or another health profession.
  3. A proceeding for professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity whether in Ontario or in another jurisdiction and whether in relation to the nursing profession or another health profession.

This is a self-reporting obligation. Only the member who has been found guilty of the criminal offence, or who has been involved in disciplinary or incapacity proceedings of another governing body, is required to report. Colleagues who know or suspect a nurse has been convicted are not required to inform the College.

The College, however, may follow up on reports it receives about members, whether it is from colleagues, employers, the public, the police or reports in the media.

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