TORONTO, May 16 /CNW/ - The decision to dismiss proceedings against the
two Toronto nurses charged in the 1998 death of Lisa Shore at the Hospital for
Sick Children was welcomed by the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA).
    "We are pleased the charges have been dropped against these nurses, but
ONA members continue to fear that understaffing and working conditions are
undermining the level of care they can deliver," said Lesley Bell, RN, ONA
Chief Executive Officer.
    "Professional nurses in Ontario should not have to leave work in fear
that they could be criminally charged if something goes wrong on their shift.
How many more nurses must go through an agonizing criminal investigation
process before it becomes clear that it is the deplorable system, not the
abilities of front-line nurses that is the problem."
    While the two nurses in this case were not members of ONA, nurses
throughout the province have followed this case closely.
    "ONA members are committed to high quality patient care and the recent
SARS crisis has highlighted the degree to which nurses are the first to put
themselves at risk, to protect their patients," said Bell.
    "The appropriate place to deal with matters like this is the College of
Nurses of Ontario (CNO), not the criminal justice system. It is unfair to
nurses."
    The CNO is mandated to undertake full investigations to determine the
causes and decide what disciplinary action is required.
    ONA is the union representing 48,000 front-line staff registered nurses
and allied health professionals in Ontario hospitals, long-term care
facilities and the community.





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For further information: Peter D. Birt, (416) 964-8833, ext. 2237, 
Cell: (416) 986-8240; Melanie Pottins, (416) 964-8833, ext. 2369, 
Cell: (416) 892-4790