The B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives has disciplined a nurse for communicating unprofessionally with a patient's mother online.
A college inquiry committee panel found Kristopher Shively of Burns Lake, B.C., had communicated in an unprofessional manner in October 2022 when addressing a patient’s parents after the patient's mother posted a comment about her negative clinical interaction with him.
“While the post did not identify the registrant, comments made by others on the post did,” the college panel said in a July 12 public notice.
The notice said Shively admitted his conduct amounted to professional misconduct and unprofessional conduct under the Health Professions Act.
Shively voluntarily agreed to a reprimand, remedial education and coaching.
The college is currently one of several regulatory bodies empowered under the Health Professions Act to regulate health professions in B.C. It regulates the practice of four distinct professions: nursing, practical nursing, psychiatric nursing and midwifery.
“The inquiry committee is satisfied that the terms will protect the public,” the college said.
The newly formed College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC amalgamates the regulation of professional chiropractors, massage therapists, naturopathic physicians, and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists in B.C. to ensure they have the competencies needed to practice and ensure they adhere to safe and ethical care standards.
Similar legislation in other self-regulated areas such as the legal and notary public professions also allows citizens to know about discipline issues in the public interest.
