Faux nurse at centre of proposed class-action lawsuit towards B.C. well being authority

An imposter nurse who labored at B.C. Ladies’s Hospital is the topic of a proposed class-action lawsuit towards the Provincial Well being Companies Authority.

The discover of civil declare, filed on behalf of plaintiff Miranda Massie in B.C. Supreme Court docket on Thursday, alleges that anybody who was a affected person at B.C. Ladies’s from June 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 suffered battery when Brigitte Cleroux, administered therapies within the absence of authorized consent.

“On account of studying that Cleroux was not a registered nurse, many Class Members sustained psychological misery and nervous shock all of which was foreseeable to the PHSA,” the doc claims.

“In any respect materials occasions, PHSA was vicariously accountable for the actions of Cleroux who was employed by the PHSA.”

Not one of the allegations has been examined in courtroom and a press release of defence has not been filed.

Cleroux can be dealing with quite a few prison prices and has an extended historical past of flouting the legislation.

On Nov. 25, Vancouver police introduced that the 49-year-old had been charged with fraud over $5,000 and personation with intent after she allegedly offered care to sufferers on the hospital whereas utilizing the identify of an actual nurse. Cleroux has not accomplished nursing faculty or held a legitimate nursing license anyplace in Canada.

It was not instantly clear what number of sufferers she had labored with, what duties or providers she had offered, or whether or not there had been any hostile outcomes referring to her work. It was later revealed she had additionally briefly labored at View Royal Surgical Centre on Vancouver Island.

In Ontario, she faces prices of prison negligence inflicting bodily hurt, assault with a weapon, acquiring by false pretence, uttering solid paperwork and personation to realize benefit after she allegedly introduced herself as a nurse at a medical and dental clinic in Ottawa the place she administered medicines and injections to sufferers.

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Lady accused of impersonating nurse at B.C. Lady’s Hospital

Massie’s discover of civil declare alleges that, for a few years earlier than Cleroux was employed at B.C. Ladies’s, she had an intensive historical past of utilizing solid credentials to work illegally as a nurse.

“A lot of this info is a matter of public file,” reads the swimsuit. “This info was available to PHSA had it exercised an affordable stage of diligence.”

On the time of Vancouver prices being introduced, the well being authority stated in assertion that “a person representing themselves as a licenced RN” was not employed with the hospital.

“We will guarantee the general public that we’re reviewing this matter absolutely to find out how this occurred, any inner processes that will have contributed to it, and influence to sufferers,” a spokesperson stated.

The lawsuit claims it was clear earlier than then that Cleroux had confirmed she was not competent to work as a registered nurse and that she “demonstrated lack of competency and ethics when interacting with sufferers.”

Massie additionally alleges that PHSA ignored complaints about her referring to her competency and ethics.

Amongst different issues, the plaintiff is looking for punitive damages, arguing that PHSA’s actions have been “outrageous, reckless, wanton, with out care, (and) callous.”

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VPD confirms fraudulent nurse labored at BC Ladies’s Hospital

Letters have been despatched to affected sufferers who’re slowly going public to debate what they’ve discovered and the way it’s impacted them.

Chaelene Peeren, who underwent surgical procedure to deal with endometriosis at B.C. Ladies’s, stated she discovered it onerous to just accept what she learn in her letter, saying “to seek out out the belief I had put within the workforce … was violated — I can’t describe how that felt.”

In June, the British Columbia School of Nurses and Midwives issued a public advisory a couple of lady calling herself Melanie Smith, Melanie Thompson or Melanie Cleroux who was falsely holding herself out as a registered nurse.

It reminded all employers “in all apply settings” of their obligation to confirm the registration standing of recent workers through its nurse verification or midwife verification instrument.