The Member was not present or represented by legal counsel at the hearing. The hearing proceeded in her absence.
Facts
In 2019, the Member was employed as a Registered Practical Nurse providing care to a palliative patient in his home. The Member attempted to give the patient an unknown medication by syringe at a time when the Patient was calm and resting. When the patient’s daughter intervened, the Member concealed the syringe in her hand and further hid it in her belongings. The Member removed the syringe from the patient’s home.
In connection with this incident, the Member was criminally charged with theft under $5,000.00 for removing the syringe from the patient’s house, attempting to administer the contents of the syringe with the intention of endangering the patient’s life, and attempting to assault the patient with a syringe. The Member was found guilty of the theft of the syringe and of attempting to assault a person with a syringe. The Member failed to report the charges or findings of guilt to the College.
Discipline Committee’s Findings
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;
- misappropriated property from a patient;
- contravened a term, condition or limitation on her certificate of registration by failing to report criminal charges against her to the College; 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 Panel made an order that included the following:
- an oral reprimand; and
- revocation of the Member’s certificate of registration.