Facts
The Member admitted that she engaged in professional misconduct. Between December 2021 and March 2022, while assigned to work in a mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic, the Member falsely documented that COVID-19 vaccines were administered to at least 16 patients when in fact no such vaccines had been administered.
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;
- falsified a record relating to her practice;
- signed or issued, in her professional capacity, a document that she knew or ought to have known contained a false or misleading statement; and
- engaged in conduct, 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;
- a 5-month suspension;
- terms, conditions and limitations, including:
- attending a minimum of 2 meetings with a Regulatory Expert; and
- employer notification for 12 months.
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 accepted responsibility by agreeing to the facts and a proposed order.
The Panel noted that the Member’s conduct, which took place during a public health crisis, undermined the efforts by government and health care professionals and implicated other health care professionals.