Health Law

The applicant child applied to the Child and Family Services Review Board to review her emergency admission to a secure treatment program.

The Board found that while the child had a mental disorder, she had not made a substantial threat to cause serious bodily harm to herself or others, and that less restrictive methods of providing treatment had not been fully explored.

The Board ordered the child's release.

The 14-year-old applicant applied to the Child and Family Services Review Board to review his emergency admission to a secure treatment program.

The admission was sought due to his violent and aggressive behaviour at home, which led to his apprehension by the Children's Aid Society.

The Board found that while the applicant had a mental disorder and posed a risk of harm, the criterion requiring that no less restrictive method of treatment be appropriate was not met.

The applicant's behaviour had stabilized in an open custody facility prior to admission, and alternative non-secure treatment options had not been adequately explored.

The Board ordered the applicant's release.

The 16-year-old applicant child, who was in the care of a Children's Aid Society, applied for a review of his emergency admission to a secure treatment program.

The child had a complex mental disorder, including a psychotic disorder and developmental disorder, and had exhibited aggressive behaviour, severe withdrawal, and an inability to adhere to medication.

The Board found that all five criteria for emergency admission under section 124(2) of the Child and Family Services Act were met.

The Board concluded that the child posed a substantial threat of serious bodily harm to himself, that the secure treatment program would be effective and appropriate, and that no less restrictive method of providing treatment was appropriate.

The application for release was dismissed.

The College of Nurses of Ontario brought disciplinary proceedings against a registered nurse for professional misconduct.

The nurse admitted to accepting unauthorized remuneration from equipment manufacturers, using hospital resources for her own unauthorized practice, and recommending or prescribing changes to insulin dosages without proper physician orders.

The Discipline Committee accepted an agreed statement of facts and a joint submission on penalty, finding the nurse guilty of professional misconduct.

The nurse was reprimanded, suspended for 60 days, and required to meet with a nursing expert to discuss scope of practice and conflict of interest.

The Member, a registered nurse, faced allegations of professional misconduct after mistakenly injecting a patient with potassium chloride instead of normal saline and heparin, resulting in the patient's death.

The Member admitted to the allegations and the Discipline Committee found her guilty of professional misconduct.

The Committee ordered a one-month suspension of her certificate of registration, imposed terms and conditions including a return to work program and learning plan, and required her to appear for a reprimand, noting she had already served a three-month employment suspension.

The Member, a registered nurse, admitted to engaging in a sexual relationship with a psychiatric patient while employed at a hospital.

The Discipline Committee found the Member committed professional misconduct by sexually abusing the patient and violating professional boundaries.

The Member brought a Charter challenge, arguing that the mandatory revocation penalty discriminated against her on the basis of a mental disability.

The panel dismissed the Charter challenge, finding insufficient evidence that the Member suffered from a mental disability that affected her functioning at the time of the misconduct.

The panel ordered the mandatory penalty of revocation of the Member's certificate of registration and a reprimand.

The College of Nurses of Ontario brought disciplinary proceedings against a registered nurse for incidents occurring during an evening shift at a long-term care residence.

The Member was alleged to have left a medication cart unlocked and unattended, verbally and emotionally abused two vulnerable residents, and failed to assess a resident experiencing a breathing crisis.

The Member did not attend the hearing and dismissed his counsel mid-proceeding.

The Discipline Committee found the Member committed professional misconduct on all allegations, noting his behaviour was unprofessional, disgraceful, and dishonourable.

The Committee ordered a four-month suspension, an oral reprimand, and remedial education on abuse prevention and anger management.

The Member, a Registered Practical Nurse, faced allegations of professional misconduct relating to multiple incidents of verbal, physical, and emotional abuse of elderly clients over a three-year period.

The Member admitted to the allegations through an Agreed Statement of Facts.

The Discipline Committee found the Member guilty of professional misconduct for contravening standards of practice, abusing clients, and engaging in disgraceful, dishonourable, or unprofessional conduct.

Accepting a Joint Submission as to Penalty, the Committee ordered a reprimand, a three-month suspension, and imposed strict monitoring and preceptorship conditions on the Member's certificate of registration.

The College of Nurses of Ontario brought disciplinary proceedings against a Registered Practical Nurse for professional misconduct.

The nurse admitted to suggesting that two psychiatric clients be locked in a special observation room, failing to intervene when the clients barricaded the door, and failing to document the events.

The Discipline Committee accepted the agreed statement of facts and found the nurse committed professional misconduct.

The Committee ordered a reprimand and imposed conditions on the nurse's certificate of registration, including completing a psychiatric nursing assessment course and viewing an abuse prevention video, but declined to impose a suspension.

The Member, a registered nurse, faced allegations of professional misconduct for violating professional boundaries with a forensic mental health patient.

The Member admitted to maintaining a friendship, visiting, loaning money, and conducting banking transactions for the patient over several years, despite previous warnings from her employer and the College.

The Discipline Committee accepted an Agreed Statement of Facts and found the Member committed professional misconduct.

Accepting a joint submission on penalty, the Committee ordered a nine-month suspension, a reprimand, and the completion of a remedial workbook on therapeutic boundaries.

The Member, a Registered Practical Nurse, was found guilty of professional misconduct after being convicted of defrauding an elderly, vulnerable couple of over $34,000 while employed as their caregiver.

The Member did not attend the discipline hearing.

The Discipline Committee found the Member guilty of professional misconduct and ordered the revocation of her Certificate of Registration, emphasizing the severe breach of trust and the need for general deterrence.

The Member, a Registered Practical Nurse, faced allegations of professional misconduct for verbally and physically abusing an elderly client with dementia.

The Member admitted to the allegations, acknowledging that she responded angrily, used inappropriate language, and roughly handled the client, causing a skin tear.

The Discipline Committee accepted an Agreed Statement of Facts and found the Member committed professional misconduct.

Accepting a joint submission on penalty, the Committee ordered a three-month suspension, a reprimand, and the completion of anger management and abuse prevention programs.

The Member, a registered practical nurse, faced allegations of professional misconduct for failing to provide care to home care clients and failing to communicate accurately with her employer about missed visits.

The Member admitted to the allegations through an Agreed Statement of Facts.

The Discipline Committee found the Member committed professional misconduct and accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand and an undertaking for the Member to complete remedial education and practice monitoring.

The College of Nurses of Ontario brought allegations of professional misconduct against a Registered Practical Nurse for emotionally and verbally abusing a quadriplegic client and misappropriating his property while acting as his live-in caregiver.

The Discipline Committee found that the nurse breached therapeutic boundaries, used vulgar language towards the client in public, and used his credit cards and property without authorization.

The panel found the member guilty of professional misconduct, ordered a reprimand, imposed conditions on her certificate, and suspended her registration for a minimum of six months.

The College of Nurses of Ontario brought disciplinary proceedings against a registered nurse for professional misconduct involving inappropriate and unwelcome physical contact with several co-workers.

The Member admitted to the allegations, acknowledging that while the touching was not sexual in intent, it was unwelcome and unprofessional.

The Discipline Committee accepted an Agreed Statement of Facts and a Joint Submission as to Penalty, finding the Member guilty of professional misconduct.

The Member was ordered to appear for an oral reprimand and to complete mandatory counselling regarding boundary violations.

The College of Nurses of Ontario alleged that the member committed professional misconduct by straddling a patient and posing for photographs during a cosmetic surgery procedure.

The Discipline Committee found that the member used a straddle restraint appropriately in response to an emergency where the patient moved vigorously under neuroleptic anaesthesia.

The Committee also found that the member did not pose for the photographs, which were taken by the surgeon without the member's prior knowledge.

The allegations of professional misconduct, physical abuse, and emotional abuse were dismissed.

The College of Nurses of Ontario alleged that the Member committed professional misconduct by straddling a client and posing for photographs during a cosmetic surgery procedure.

The Discipline Committee found that the College failed to prove the allegations.

The evidence demonstrated that an emergency occurred during the surgery requiring the patient to be restrained, and the photographs captured a split second of this event rather than a posed tableau.

The allegations of physical and emotional abuse, as well as disgraceful conduct, were dismissed.

The Member, a Registered Practical Nurse, faced allegations of professional misconduct for holding herself out as a Registered Nurse while employed at an agency.

The Member admitted to the allegations and an Agreed Statement of Facts was presented.

The Discipline Committee found that the Member committed professional misconduct by inappropriately using the title of Registered Nurse to sign client records and a nursing home register.

The Committee accepted a joint submission on penalty, ordering a one-month suspension, a $200 fine, an oral reprimand, and the completion of an ethics course.

The Member, a Registered Practical Nurse, faced allegations of professional misconduct for failing to properly assess, treat, and document the condition of a diabetic client in a long-term care facility.

The client was found unresponsive and later died of a hypoglycemic coma.

The Member admitted to the allegations, acknowledging her failure to conduct a complete assessment, intervene appropriately, seek assistance, and maintain accurate records.

The Discipline Committee found the Member guilty of professional misconduct and ordered a reprimand, a 30-day suspension, and the completion of remedial education and practice monitoring.

The Member, a registered nurse, faced allegations of professional misconduct for inappropriate post-discharge contact with three psychiatric clients.

The Member admitted to the allegations, acknowledging that he contacted the clients without authorization from the health care team, contrary to previous counselling.

The Discipline Committee accepted an Agreed Statement of Facts and a Joint Submission on Penalty, finding the Member guilty of professional misconduct.

The Member was reprimanded, suspended for five months, and subjected to conditions including counselling and a restriction from practicing mental health or psychiatric nursing.