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Lucy Susan Johnston, IJ05463
The Member engaged in professional misconduct during interactions with eight patients. The Member administered medications to patients who had clearly refused, either by injection or crushed in apple sauce. The Member also force-fed or attempted to force-feed five patients on one or more occasions, which included yelling at patients, shaking patients in an attempt to wake them and forcing patients to eat or drink when they had refused to eat or drink. The Member also made a private remark about a patient in front of other patients and staff.
The Member was not present or represented by legal counsel. The hearing proceeded in her absence.
The Panel found the Member committed acts of professional misconduct, and in particular, the following:
- contravening a standard of practice of the profession or failing to meet the standards of practice of the profession;
- abusing patients physically, emotionally and verbally;
- doing something to patients for a therapeutic, preventative, palliative, diagnostic, cosmetic or other health related purpose in a situation in which a consent was required by law, without such consent; and
- engaging 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.
The Panel made an order that included the following:
- an oral reprimand;
- a 9-month suspension; and
- terms, conditions and limitations, including:
- attending a minimum of 2 meetings with a Regulatory Expert;
- employer notification for 18 months; and
- no independent practice for 18 months.
Aggravating factors considered by the Panel included:
- the seriousness of the Member’s misconduct;
- the number of patients affected by the Member’s abusive behaviour; and
- the large number of standards the Member breached.
Since the Member did not attend the hearing, the Panel did not receive information from the Member regarding mitigating factors, so the only mitigating factor considered by the Panel was that the Member has no prior discipline history with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
