"If (the nurses) are charged, then the Shores would welcome the criminal justice system dealing with the conduct of the nurses," said Frank Gomberg, the lawyer for Bill and Sharon Shore.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of 10-year-old Lisa Shore in 1998, including the role played by nurses Ruth Doerksen and Anagaile Soriano.

Reports emerged today that the two nurses would soon be charged with criminal negligence causing the death of a patient.

CFTO, CTV's Toronto affiliate, reported this evening that Doerksen and Soriano are to surrender to police and be charged as early as Thursday.

Police would not confirm if arrests were pending, noting the investigation is ongoing.

"It's not appropriate for us to comment on an ongoing investigation," said Sgt. Robb Knapper.

A coroner's inquest in February 2000 ruled the death a homicide.

However, the verdict is merely a finding of fact and carries no weight in the criminal justice system.

The Shores declined to comment on the investigation, but Gomberg said the couple has "great confidence in the criminal justice system."

The Hospital for Sick Children also wouldn't comment.

Doerksen and Soriano are currently on paid leave.

Liz McIntyre, the lawyer for Doerksen and Soriano, said charging the nurses would send a troubling message to health-care providers.

"They're going to say to themselves when they go to work in the morning, 'Am I going to face criminal charges personally because something went wrong?'"

The union that represents Ontario nurses, although not those at the Hospital for Sick Children, says nurses across Canada will be infuriated if charges are laid.

"We are very interested in what happens in this case and can tell you that nurses everywhere will be outraged if these nurses are charged," said Lesley Bell, CEO of the Ontario Nurses' Association.

Doctors found Lisa Shore dead in her bed on Oct. 22, 1998, less than 12 hours after she was admitted to hospital with nerve pain stemming from a broken leg.

The coroner's jury heard evidence that Doerksen and Soriano did not access computerized orders from Lisa's doctors to monitor the possibly deadly effects of the morphine the girl had been given.

In an apology issued by the hospital during last year's coroner's inquest, chief of nursing Jean Marie Reeder admitted the girl received "inadequate nursing care."

Health Ministry spokesman Gord Haugh said the criminal investigation was secondary to the inquest, which he said had resolved the issue of public safety.

"The health-care issues were dealt with in the coroner's inquest and it is our understanding the hospital has reacted to any health-care concerns raised by the inquest," Haugh said.

Criminal charges have seldom been laid against Canadian health-care professionals in connection with their work.

One exception is the case of Susan Nelles, a nurse charged with the deaths of four babies at the Hospital for Sick Children in 1982.

After a lengthy preliminary investigation, a judge ruled that police charged the wrong person.

A 1994 inquest cleared Nelles of any wrongdoing, and she was subsequently awarded $190,000 in compensation.