Caressant Care Offers Clarification on Wettlaufer Hearing

Wednesday, 26 July 2017 at 11:41

The Caressant Care in Woodstock has offered some clarification into their handling of Elizabeth Wettlaufer.

WOODSTOCK - The Caressant Care in Woodstock has released a statement in response to the numerous requests for comments on Elizabeth Wettlaufer.

They issued a press release this morning following the hearing for Wettlaufer yesterday by the College of Nurses of Ontario. Wettlaufer was found guilty of professional misconduct and her nursing license was revoked.

The release offered a few clarifications they wanted to make public. They are as follows:

- Caressant Care terminated the subject of the hearing, Nurse Elizabeth Wettlaufer, on March 31, 2014.

- She was terminated after making ten workplace violations over two and a half years, three violations that included suspensions.

- Following its duty to inform CNO of terminations, Caressant Care sent the College a 20-page chronological report outlining their concerns on April 17, 2014. CNO says it did not receive this document until May 1, 2014. Caressant Care's report stated "she was “terminated due to a medication error that resulted in putting a resident at risk."

- The College stated: "The College inquired into the matter. In an interview with College staff, the Director of Nursing at Caressant Care ("DON") indicated there was no underlying issue or concern with the Member..." Caressant Care has no records indicating that its leadership or staff believed or said this in response to any inquiry following the termination.

- Three months after formally advising CNO of the termination, we were notified by the CNO on July 17, 2014 that it had received our written report. No other discussions or documents were mentioned) and would contact us if further information were required. We did not hear from CNO again on this matter until after the charges were laid in 2016.

- Documents submitted to the CNO hearing, including from an investigator from the Professional Conduct Department of the College of Nurses, "responsible for intake, initial investigation an assessment of reports received by the College," make no mention of the "underlying issues or concerns" allegedly reported by Caressant Care, nor do other CNO hearing documents.

The nursing home also wanted to maintain that their thoughts remain with the families and friends of those victimized by these crimes and their loyal and hard-working staff who have done an admirable job under the most difficult circumstances.

They will provide their full cooperation to the public inquiry.