Facts
The Member admitted that she engaged in professional misconduct. In 2013, the Member engaged in a personal sexual relationship with a former patient of a clinic at which the Member was employed. In so doing, the Member failed to consider whether the relationship would have a negative effect on the patient’s future care and failed to demarcate to the patient and the clinic that their relationship was no longer therapeutic but purely personal. The Member also failed to report to her employer or the College that her colleague had had a personal and/or sexual relationship with a patient.
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;
- failed to report an incident of unsafe practice or unethical conduct of a health care provider to the employer or other authority responsible for the health care provider; 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 9-month suspension;
- terms, conditions and limitations, including:
- attending at least 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.