Discipline Committee of the College of Nurses of Ontario
PANEL: Catherine Egerton, Public Member Chairperson Terry Holland, RPN Member Mary MacMillan-Gilkinson Public Member Sherry Szucsko-Bedard, RN Member Terah White, RPN Member
BETWEEN:
COLLEGE OF NURSES OF ONTARIO ) EMILY LAWRENCE for ) College of Nurses of Ontario
- and - )
PATRICK LENTO ) RENÉE KOPP for Reg. No. AA798110 ) Patrick Lento
) JUSTIN SAFAYENI
) Independent Legal Counsel
) Heard: September 27, 2017
DECISION AND REASONS
This matter came on for hearing before a panel of the Discipline Committee on September 27, 2014 at the College of Nurses of Ontario (“the College”) at Toronto.
The Allegations
Counsel for the College advised the Panel that the College was requesting leave to withdraw the allegations set out in paragraphs 1 (b),(f); 2(b),(d); and 3(b),(f) of the Notice of Hearing dated June 9, 2017. The Panel granted this request. Counsel for the College also advised the Panel that they would not be calling evidence on sections of 1 (a), (e); 2(a); and 3(a) and (e) which referred to the Member as communicating “rudely” to his Clients. Counsel for the College further advised the Panel that they would not be calling evidence on a section of 2(a) where it states that the Member “physically treated client [Client A] inappropriately”. Given that no evidence was called, the Panel dismissed these portions of the allegations.
The remaining allegations against Patrick Lento (the “Member”) as stated in the Notice of Hearing dated June 9, 2017 are as follows.
IT IS ALLEGED THAT:
- You have committed an act of professional misconduct as provided by subsection 51(1)(c) of the Health Professions Procedural Code of the Nursing Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c. 32, as amended, and defined in subsection 1(1) of Ontario Regulation 799/93, in that while working as a Registered Practical Nurse at St. Joseph’s General Hospital, in Elliot Lake, Ontario, you contravened a standard of practice of the profession or failed to meet the standards of practice of the profession, with respect to the following incidents:
a. In or about January 2015 to April 2015, you communicated rudely and inappropriately with client [Client A] and/or made inappropriate comments about client [Client A] and/or displayed an inappropriate attitude towards client [Client A]; and/or
b. [Withdrawn]; and/or
c. On or around March 22, 2015, you acted inappropriately towards client [Client B]; and/or
d. On or around April 5, 2015, you made an inappropriate comment to client [Client C]; and/or
e. On or around April 8, 2015, you communicated rudely and inappropriately with client [Client D]; and/or
f. [Withdrawn].
- You have committed an act of professional misconduct as provided by subsection 51(1)(c) of the Health Professions Procedural Code of the Nursing Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c. 32, as amended, and defined in subsection 1(7) of Ontario Regulation 799/93, in that while working as a Registered Practical Nurse at St. Joseph’s General Hospital, in Elliot Lake, Ontario, you abused a client verbally, physically or emotionally, with respect to the following incidents:
a. In or about January 2015 to April 2015, you communicated rudely and inappropriately with client [Client A], and/or made inappropriate comments about client [Client A], and/or physically treated client [Client A] inappropriately; and/or
b. [Withdrawn]; and/or
c. On or around March 22, 2015, you acted inappropriately towards client [Client B]; and/or
d. [Withdrawn]
- You have committed an act of professional misconduct as provided by subsection 51(1)(c) of the Health Professions Procedural Code of the Nursing Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c. 32, as amended, and defined in subsection 1(37) of [Ontario Regulation](https://www.canlii.org/en/on