Digest: Strom v Saskatchewan Registered Nurses' Assn., 2018 SKQB 110

Reported as: 2018 SKQB 110

Docket Number: QBG 597/17 JCS , QB17495

Court: Court of Queen's Bench

Date: 2018-04-11

Judges:

• Currie

Subjects:

• Professions and Occupations � Registered Nurses - Discipline

Digest: The appellant appealed the decision of the discipline committee of the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses� Association (SNRA). It ruled that she had engaged in professional misconduct and that she should be fined. It ordered her to pay costs of the proceedings and set them at $25,000. The matter arose because the appellant posted comments on her Facebook page that criticized the care that her grandfather received at a care home. At the time she posted the comments, the appellant was on maternity leave. After the hearing, the committee concluded that the appellant had violated s. 26(1) and s. 26(2)(l) of The Registered Nurses Act, 1988. Under s. 26(2)(l), the appellant was found to have engaged in professional misconduct because she failed to comply with six clauses set out in the provisions of the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses. The court determined that the committee had made four decisions that it was to review: 1) that the appellant�s off-duty conduct was subject to discipline; 2) that she engaged in professional misconduct; 2) that its decision infringed the appellant�s right to freedom of expression...