On This Page
Jessie Anderson, AC887350
Facts
The Member admitted that she engaged in professional misconduct. The Member was employed on an addictions unit in a facility. The Member and a patient on the unit engaged in several non-clinical interactions. Immediately after the patient’s discharge from the unit, and while the patient was still an outpatient of the facility, the Member engaged in a sexual relationship with the patient. The Member also provided this patient with information about another patient of the facility without the other patient’s consent. Finally, when the Member received CNO’s record of investigation, which was provided to the Member for the purpose of responding to the investigation, the Member told the first patient that she had received the patient’s health records and to contact the Member if the patient wished to discuss the contents of the health records.
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:
- sexually abused a patient;
- contravened a standard of practice of the profession or failed to meet the standards of practice of the profession;
- gave information about a client to a person other than the client or his or her authorized representative without the consent of the client or his or her authorized representative or as required or allowed by law; and
- engaged in conduct, relevant to the practice of nursing, that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as dishonourable, disgraceful and unprofessional.
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;
- reimburse CNO up to $5,000 for funding provided to the patient for therapy and counselling, if the fund is accessed; and
- revocation of the Member’s certificate of registration.
The Panel accepted the Joint Submission on Order, concluding that the proposed order 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 the joint submission on order.
The Panel further stated that the order sends a message to the Member and the profession that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated and will have serious and absolute consequences.
