Burnaby nurse took pictures of confidential patient information on personal phone, BCCNM says
A former Burnaby nurse who took pictures of a document containing confidential information about residents of a long-term care facility for "no work-related purpose" has been disciplined by her provincial college.
Samantha Joyce Ballesteros is a former licensed practical nurse, according to the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives.
In June 2022, Ballesteros used a personal mobile device to take pictures of four pages of the document, which contained information on 114 residents of the facility, according to a notice about the case published on the BCCNM website Monday.
"The registrant had no work-related purpose for obtaining the information," the notice reads. "Further, the registrant breached an undertaking and failed to co-operate with the regulator during the investigation."
According to the college, Ballesteros and the BCCNM's inquiry committee reached a consent agreement to resolve these "practice issues."
In that agreement, the former LPN voluntarily agreed to a public reprimand, a three-week suspension of her nursing registration, remedial education in ethics, privacy, responsibility and accountability, and "a regulatory practice consulting program to address the foundational issues underpinning this agreement."
Asked how a former nurse could have her registration suspended by the professional college, a spokesperson for BCCNM explained that the suspension would take effect should Ballesteros decide to reinstate her registration in the future.
In an email to CTV News, the spokesperson Ballesteros holds "non-practising" status with the college, which is why she's listed as a former nurse.
"Registrants can go non-practising for many reasons, including parental leave, leaving the profession, not renewing their registration, or other reasons," the spokesperson wrote.
"Should Ms. Ballesteros decide in the future to reinstate her registration, she would have to meet all of the requirements, and once she was granted practising registration, the suspension would then take effect before she could return to practice."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Oh my God, you're my brother': Man in his 70s discovers 6 unknown siblings
After receiving a DNA kit one Christmas from his son-in-law, Hugh McCormick soon discovered that he had six unknown siblings, with whom he shared the same birth parents.
No refund for travellers who cancelled flight already scrapped by airline: regulator
Four years on, the controversy over whether airlines owed refunds to passengers after cancelling hundreds of thousands of flights during the pandemic continues to simmer, aggravated by a sluggish, opaque complaints process.
Just how bad are ultraprocessed foods? Here are 5 things to know
Many foods fall under the category of ultraprocessed foods, depending on their exact ingredients. This type of food has been studied a lot lately, and the results aren’t great.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Rates of cancer declining in Canada, but more work needed to save lives: projections
A new study projecting declining rates of cancer cases and deaths in Canada demonstrates the success of prevention and early detection programs, but also highlights areas where more work is needed to save and prolong lives, researchers say.
DEVELOPING Trump trial arrives at a pivotal moment: Star witness Michael Cohen is poised to take the stand
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial is set to take the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
India's mammoth election is more than halfway done as millions begin voting in fourth round
Millions of Indians across 96 constituencies began casting their ballots on Monday as the country's gigantic, six-week-long election edges past its halfway mark. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third straight term with an eye on winning a supermajority in Parliament.
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
Man fatally 'slashed in the neck' in downtown Toronto, suspect outstanding
Police are searching for a male suspect after a man was “slashed in neck” on Sunday morning in downtown Toronto and died.