Facts
The Member admitted that she engaged in professional misconduct. In 2016 and 2017, the Member operated a business giving cosmetic injections out of her home without supervision. In April 2017, Patient A began to feel unwell after receiving some injections at the Member’s home. Patient A had a seizure and was placed on the floor, before she became unconscious. The Member told Patient A’s boyfriend that the patient was sleeping and would wake up. Approximately two hours later, when the Member’s estranged husband came to her house, he saw Patient A unconscious on the floor starting to turn blue and told the patient’s boyfriend to call 911. Patient A was taken to hospital where she died as a result of an embolism caused by the injection of mineral oil into a blood vessel in the buttock. The Member and her estranged husband tried, unsuccessfully, to dispose of evidence showing that she had been giving cosmetic injections in her home.
As a result of Patient A’s death, several additional patients came forward to make allegations against the Member. The Member was ultimately charged with causing death by criminal negligence and failing to provide the necessaries of life to Patient A, along with numerous counts of aggravated assault and criminal negligence causing bodily harm in connection with the administration of fillers to other patients.
In 2021, the Member pleaded guilty to one charge of criminal negligence causing the death of Patient A, and seven additional charges of criminal negligence causing bodily harm. In 2022, she was sentenced to six years in jail in connection with Patient A’s death, and to five years in jail on each of the counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm to be served concurrently.
In 2017 and 2018, the Member was also charged with assault, breaking and entering with an intent to commit an indictable offence, two counts of failing to comply with a condition of her recognizance, and failing to attend court. She was found guilty of failing to attend court, and was sentenced to a conditional discharge and 12 months probation. The remaining charges were withdrawn.
The Member did not report any of the criminal charges or findings of guilt to the College of Nurses of Ontario (“CNO”).
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:
- was found guilty of offences relevant to her suitability to practise; and
- contravened a term, condition or limitation on her certificate of registration by failing to report to the College that she had been charged with an offence or found guilty of an offence.
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;
- revocation of the Member’s certificate of registration.
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 emphasized that the conduct which resulted in the Member’s criminal convictions was reprehensible, fundamentally inconsistent with the core values of the profession and will not be tolerated. Revocation was the only possible penalty in these circumstances.