Facts
The Member admitted that he engaged in professional misconduct. The Member facilitated group and individual therapy for patients with mental health conditions. In 2018 and 2019 the Member began sexual relationships and engaged in sexual intercourse with three different vulnerable patients. The Member also violated professional boundaries by contacting two other patients outside of clinical settings, including through social media accounts like Snapchat, TikTok and Facebook. On at least one occasion, the Member obtained a patient’s contact information from the their medical records.
Discipline Committee’s Findings
Based on the Member’s admissions, a panel of the Discipline Committee of the College of Nurses of Ontario (the “Panel”) found that the Member:
- contravened a standard of practice of the profession or failed to meet the standards of practice of the profession;
- sexually abused a patient; and
- engaged in conduct or performed an act, relevant to the practice of nursing, that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional.
Discipline Committee’s Order
The College of Nurses of Ontario (“CNO”) and the Member presented the Panel with a Joint Submission on Order requesting that the Panel make an order that included the following:
- an oral reprimand;
- immediate revocation of the Member’s certificate of registration; and,
- reimbursement to the College for funding for therapy and counselling provided for the three patients whom the Member sexually abused of up to $5,000 each.
The Panel accepted the Joint Submission on Order, concluding that the proposed penalty was reasonable and in the public interest. The Panel noted that the Member cooperated with the CNO and, by agreeing to the facts and a proposed penalty, has accepted responsibility.
The Panel emphasized that all nurses have a certain element of power in their relationship with patients. The Panel stated that all nurses must ensure that the professional nurse-patient relationship remains therapeutic, and guard against any abuse of power.