Dena Smith-Springer

The Member, a registered nurse, admitted to committing professional misconduct by submitting false claims totaling $2,710 to her employer's group benefit plan in exchange for non-medical products.

The Discipline Committee accepted an Agreed Statement of Facts and found that the Member contravened standards of practice, misappropriated property, falsified records, and engaged in dishonourable and unprofessional conduct.

The Committee accepted a Joint Submission on Order, imposing a reprimand, a three-month suspension of her certificate of registration, and conditions including meetings with a regulatory expert and employer notification.

Two registered nurses sought judicial review of decisions by the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC) of the College of Nurses of Ontario requiring them to be cautioned and, in one case, to complete a remediation program.

The applicants argued the decisions were unreasonable because the ICRC failed to address their submissions regarding inordinate delay (over four years) and abuse of process.

One applicant also argued the ICRC failed to consider her mental health disability under the Human Rights Code.

The Divisional Court granted the applications, quashed the decisions, and remitted the matters back to the ICRC, finding the decisions unreasonable because the ICRC failed to meaningfully grapple with the central issues of delay, abuse of process, and disability.

The Member, a registered nurse, admitted to committing professional misconduct by submitting false claims to her employer's benefit plan, receiving $4,305 in monetary payments or store credits for items not covered by the plan.

The Discipline Committee accepted an Agreed Statement of Facts and found the Member guilty of professional misconduct, including misappropriating property, falsifying records, and engaging in dishonourable conduct.

The Committee accepted a Joint Submission on Order, imposing a reprimand, a 3-month suspension, and terms and conditions on her certificate of registration, including meetings with a regulatory expert and employer notification.

The College of Nurses of Ontario brought discipline proceedings against a registered nurse for failing to apply fall prevention interventions, failing to assess a deteriorating patient, and falsifying health records.

The hearing proceeded on an Agreed Statement of Facts and a Joint Submission on Order.

The Discipline Committee found the member committed professional misconduct and engaged in dishonourable and unprofessional conduct.

The Committee accepted the joint submission on penalty, ordering a reprimand, a 3-month suspension, and terms, conditions, and limitations on the member's certificate of registration.