'Serial fraud artist': Crown wants 8-year jail term for fake nurse who treated nearly 1K B.C. patients

B.C. Crown prosecutors are calling for an eight-year prison term for a woman who illegally treated nearly 1,000 patients across the province while impersonating a real nurse.

Brigitte Cleroux, 53, pleaded guilty in July in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver to several crimes including fraud over $5,000, personation, using forged documents and assault.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Cleroux, using the name and credentials of a real nurse—whose identity is protected by a publication ban—to obtain employment at B.C. Women’s Hospital in June of 2020.

Cleroux was hired as a general duty nurse in post-anesthetic care in the gynecological surgical services section of the hospital and treated at least 899 patients between June 2020 to June 2021, before she was placed on leave after complaints from both staff and patients.

She administered powerful drugs to patients including fentanyl and hydromorphone intravenously.

Cleroux admits she has never been a licensed or registered nurse of any type in any jurisdiction.

She also worked a brief stint at View Royal Surgical Centre near Victoria in October and November of 2020, treating nearly 60 patients, before she resigned after numerous complaints about her abilities and professionalism.

Multiple victims, whose identities are also protected by a publication ban, fought through tears as they gave victim impact statements Tuesday.

“I’m always on high alert; I’m nervous and I don’t trust anyone,” said one woman. “My life will never be the same since this criminal touched me.”

“This interaction has impacted my emotional health, my trust in the medical system and ongoing treatment plans for my medical condition,” said another woman.

Cleroux, dressed in a flower-patterned dress, shook her head in the prisoner’s box as the woman spoke.

‘A serial fraud artist’

Crown prosecutor Alexander Burton told the court that Cleroux’s first fraud conviction came in 1989.

In 2011, she was sentenced for various offences in Alberta including personation of a nurse and fraud.

She is currently serving a seven-year prison term for impersonating a nurse in Ontario.

Burton says an eight-year sentence to be served consecutively to the Ontario sentence would be appropriate for Cleroux’s B.C. offences.

“The only way the Crown submits to protect the public from Ms. Cleroux is to segregate her from society,” he said.

Cleroux’s defence will have its chance to address the court on Tuesday.