Admit inadequate care the night 10-year-old died, but won't miss a day of work

Sharon and Bill Shore are photographed outside yesterday's College of Nurses disciplinary hearing for two nurses who cared for the couple's daughter Lisa. (Fred thornhill/Sun)

Two nurses who cared for 10-year-old Lisa Shore -- and admitted misconduct -- on the night she died seven years ago at the Hospital for Sick Children will not lose a day on the job.

Ruth Doerksen and Anagaile Soriano, who pleaded guilty yesterday to professional misconduct at a disciplinary hearing at the College of Nurses of Ontario, were given one-month suspensions, but that penalty was suspended.

Doerksen, a nurse since 1984, and Soriano, a rookie at the time of Lisa's death, were also reprimanded.

"No one will be able to say justice has been done or the public has been protected," said Lisa's mother, Sharon Shore. "I'm angry that Lisa's death seems to be meaningless except to us."

The Thornhill girl died on Oct. 22, 1998, at Sick Kids, where she was being treated for severe pain stemming from a months-old broken leg.

In an agreed statement of fact, Doerksen and Soriano admitted they did not adequately monitor Lisa, who showed warning signs of respiratory depression, a side effect of the drugs she was given for pain. They also admitted they did not adequately document Lisa's care or condition.

But the college could not prove "any omission or commission" by the two nurses caused Lisa's death, said college lawyer Linda Rothstein.

The suspended sentence was appropriate because disciplinary hearings are intended to protect the public and must focus on the nurses' conduct, she said.

"It's not appropriate to punish harshly because the consequences are heartbreaking and tragic," Rothstein said.

Yesterday's hearing was the final step in an emotional seven-year case that saw criminal charges filed against the two nurses and later dropped. A high-profile coroner's inquest in 2000 ended in a verdict of homicide -- a finding of fact that carries no legal weight.

Sharon Shore said yesterday's hearing was a "whitewash" and the evidence heard did not reflect what happened the night her daughter died.

Doerksen and Soriano, who were suspended with pay following the inquest, returned to work in November 2003.

"I don't think it's a slap on the wrist," said Marlys Edwardh, Doerksen's lawyer. "Both Anagaile and Ruth feel deeply the loss this family has suffered."

"They have paid an extremely heavy price," added Elizabeth McIntyre, Soriano's lawyer.

The disciplinary panel heard the two nurses received extensive training and supervision when they returned to work.

"They are two of the safest nurses we have at Sick Kids," said Margaret Keatings, the hospital's vice-president of professional practice and chief nursing executive.

"Nurses are human. We make mistakes ... You often learn a lot from your mistakes."