Imposter nurse who pleaded guilty apologizes at B.C. sentencing hearing

A woman who passed herself off as a nurse and fraudulently treated almost 1,000 patients in health-care settings in Metro Vancouver and southern Vancouver Island delivered a tearful apology on the final day of her sentencing hearing at B.C. Supreme Court.

Briggite Cleroux previously pleaded guilty to 11 counts related to the work she obtained through false pretenses – including fraud, impersonation and assault with a weapon.

According to an agreed statement of facts jointly submitted by the Crown and defence, beginning in June 2020, Cleroux spent nearly a year working as a post-anesthetic care nurse at BC Women’s Hospital.

Her duties included administering powerful sedatives, including fentanyl and hydromorphone.

The court heard she treated 899 patients after getting the job by falsely using the identity and credentials of an actual registered nurse licensed to practice in British Columbia.

According to the agreed statement of facts, that woman has since changed her name because of the ongoing fallout from Cleroux’s impersonation.

In June 2021, the hospital placed Cleroux on leave after complaints from patients and colleagues.

She also briefly worked at View Royal Surgical Centre near Victoria, before resigning after numerous complaints about her abilities and professionalism.

Cleroux’s lawyer acknowledges she has never been registered or licensed to work as a nurse in any jurisdiction.

Guillaume Garih told the court his client did attend nursing college for several semesters, but was not able to graduate because of a criminal record that includes numerous previous convictions.

Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes, who is presiding over the hearing, asked about documentation from the alleged school to back up the claim, but Garih said he was unable to produce it.

Before the hearing adjourned, Cleroux exercised her right to address the court directly.

She sobbed as she read brief prepared remarks.

“To all the patients who were affected directly or indirectly by my actions in this matter, I sincerely apologize to you all,” she said, through tears.

Cleroux is nearly halfway through a seven-year sentence for similar crimes committed in Ontario.

Crown would like to see an additional eight years tacked onto the end of that term for the B.C. charges.

Cleroux’s lawyers have asked for five or six years to be served at the same time as the remainder of her Ontario sentence.

Holmes has reserved her decision and is scheduled to deliver it at the end of next week.