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Naomi Clark, AH039141
The Member was not present nor was the Member represented by legal counsel at the hearing. The hearing proceeded in the Member’s absence.
Facts
While employed as a nurse on the in-patient unit at a recovery centre, the Member entered into a personal and romantic relationship with a patient, who was experiencing serious mental health and other conditions. This relationship led to the patient signing out against medical advice and moving in with the Member. The Member had the patient deceive the patient’s care team about who the Member was and continued the relationship following the patient’s discharge from the facility.
Discipline Committee’s Findings
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; and
- engaged in conduct, relevant to the practice of nursing, that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional.
Discipline Committee’s Order
The Panel made an order that included the following:
- an oral reprimand; and
- revocation of the Member’s certificate of registration.
The Panel noted that the Member did not participate in the hearing, has not shown remorse, nor any willingness to be governed by CNO. The Panel stated that the order sends a strong message to the Member and the profession that a sexual and personal relationship between a member and patient will not be tolerated.
