Ontario's demoralized nurses angered at criminal charges filed against Sick Kids' colleagues

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ONTARIO NURSES' ASSOCIATION

Attention News Editors:

Ontario's demoralized nurses angered at criminal charges filed against Sick Kids' colleagues



    TORONTO, Oct. 25 /CNW/ - Criminal charges filed today against two

registered nurses in the 1998 death of patient Lisa Shore are of great concern

to thousands of demoralized nurses across the province.

    "Nurses are quite upset about this latest development in a tragic story,

and their hearts go out to the Shore family. Unfortunately, they leave work

every day in fear that they cannot provide safe care because of serious

understaffing and working conditions. Now they have to worry that they may be

criminally charged if something goes terribly wrong on their shifts," said

Lesley Bell, RN, Chief Executive Officer of the 45,000-member Ontario Nurses'

Association (ONA).

    "The appropriate place to deal with matters like this is the College of

Nurses of Ontario, which has undertaken a full investigation to determine the

causes and what disciplinary action may be necessary. To bring this to the

criminal justice system is simply unfair."

    Bell said nurses are deeply concerned that the nursing shortage and

deplorable working conditions continue to put Ontario patients and their

health care providers at risk. Eighty-one per cent of ONA members say their

current workload is unsafe and increases the risk of injury to nurses, while

79 per cent say understaffing has led to unsafe conditions for patients.







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For further information: ONTARIO NURSES' ASSOCIATION - Melanie Pottins, 
(416) 964-8833, ext. 2369, Cell: (416) 892-4790; Laura Ziemba, 
(416) 964-8833, ext. 2237, Cell: (416) 803-8028