That the Member’s conduct was unprofessional as it demonstrated a serious and persistent disregard for her professional obligations. Nurses are accountable for practising in accordance with the Professional Standards, practice expectations, legislation and regulations. The Member gave false and misleading information, which is dishonest and breaches the public’s trust in the profession. That the Member’s conduct was dishonourable. The Member demonstrated an element of dishonesty and deceit by approachingand offering to administer medication to the Client who was palliative and receiving Dilaudid for pain. The Member misappropriated the medication Dilaudid for her own use. The Member failed to meet the basic needs of the Client when she withheld the Client’s medication, this act in its self is neglect and morally wrong. The Member was in a position of power over not only the Client but also who was an RPN working under the Member’s direct supervision. That the Member’s conduct was disgraceful as it shames the Member and by extension the profession. The conduct of the Member resulted in her being criminally charged and convicted on August 30, 2016 in relation to the incident of theft of a value not exceeding $5,000.The fact that the Member willingly withheld/misappropriated pain medication from a palliative Clientcasts serious doubt on the Member’s moral fitness and inherent ability to discharge the higher obligations the public expects nursing professionals to meet. This Member demonstrated a lack of integrity, dishonesty, abuse of her power and disregard for the welfare and safety of the Client. The health profession will not tolerate this conduct. The Member’s conduct has brought shame not only on herself but also on the profession as a whole.
It is no surprise that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the delivery of health services and the regulation of various health professions.
In a welcomed move, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) Council recently approved a new registration policy allowing the Registration Committee to issue a Certificate of Registration authorizing Independent Practice to applicants who have not completed Part II of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE).
The test for the standard of care in medical negligence cases has remained untouched since the Supreme Court of Canada’s 1995 decision in ter Neuzen v. Korn.
On January 18, 2021, the Supreme Court of Canada heard the appeal in Armstrong v. Ward. Their unanimous decision maintains the status quo with respect to the standard of care in medical negligence cases.
Like other professionals, pharmacists have been adjusting to an expanded scope of practice as all health professionals work to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. We wrote about some of these changes in our previous blog posts.
Last week, the Minister of Health made additional changes to the Regulated Health Professions Act relevant to pharmacy professionals. Now, members of the Ontario College of Pharmacists — including pharmacists, interns, registered pharmacy students, or pharmacy technicians — can administer coronavirus vaccines by injection. These individuals must be certified to administer vaccines and must do so while being engaged by an organization that has an agreement with the Minister governing the administration of the vaccine (e.g., a hospital).