Discipline Committee of The College of Nurses of Ontario

DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE OF THE COLLEGE OF NURSES OF ONTARIO
Marco Giannotta
Rosemary Watkins
Friday, November 7th, 2014
NURS 217
Humber College
This case is about Janet Philp, a Registered Practical Nurse, who attempted to murder an
individual by setting fire to a dwelling on July 15th, 2008. It is also known that on the same day
Janet Philp committed arson with disregard for human life, in that she intentionally or recklessly
caused damage by fire to a dwelling knowing that there was an individual was inside. The
profession misconduct that Janet Philp has committed was by subsection 51(1)(a) of the Health
Professions Procedural Code of the Nursing Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c. 32, in that on or about
November 9, 2010, in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in, Ontario, Janet Philp was found
guilty for an offence relevant to her suitability to practise, and in particular, she was found guilty
for attempting to murder and individual by setting fire to a dwelling (2012, CNO). Also, it was
clearly evident that Janet Philp knew that an individual was inside the dwelling at the time. It is
also known that Janet Philp had a Notice of Hearing dated September 26, 2012. The panel had
given plenty of notice to the member regarding her court date but she was still not in attendance
the day of the hearing. The panel had received a certified copy of the indictment which
evidenced Janet Philps conviction on the charges of arson with disregard for human life and
attempted murder. Janet Philps never told anyone about her convictions until evidence was given
which is unethical. Janet Philp clearly knew that an individual was in the house at the time she
had attempted to set fire to it. To do such an act must mean that the individual committing the
offence must have a reason to do so or a mental illness. There were many people that were
involved in this alleged professional misconduct. Firefighters, Janet Philps family members and
even the neighbourhood where the fire could have taken place could have been severely harmed
if the situation got out of hand. The discipline committee realized that Janet Philp committed acts
of professional misconduct as heard from the Notice of Hearing. Ultimately, Janet Philp was
found guilty of all offences that interfere with her suitability to practice with respect to her
conviction on November 9th, 2010. The College mentioned that this particular offence goes
against the human life and is a serious break of trust. The college decided to immediately
suspend Janet Philps certificate of registration immediately. I completely agree with the
Colleges decision in revoking Janet Philps certificate of registration because when you work in
an environment where you care for patients it is not acceptable to commit offences like she
intended to. The fact that she had attempted to set fire to a dwelling with the intent to harm an
individual clearly tells me that she is not capable of working in a hospital where she deals with
humans every day. This type of action is unacceptable and should never my tolerated in the
health care profession.
According to the Canadian Nurses Association, ethical values are the nurses
commitments to persons with health-care needs and persons receiving care. It is intended for
nurses in all contexts and domains of nursing practice and at all levels of decision-making. It is
developed by nurses for nurses and can assist nurses in practicing ethically and working through
ethical challenges that arise in their practice with individuals, families, communities and public
health systems (CNA, 2014). It is clearly evident that this nurse contravened multiple ethical
values related to nursing but the ones that stand out that most for Janet Philps was her
accountability and respect for life
Janet Philps disregarded her accountability due to the fact that she had never told anyone
on the unit about her offences she had committed till the evidenced was later given to the health
care team. I believe that this is very unethical of Janet Philps because it is her role and duty to
report any incidences she has committed to her health care team. It is also very important to
ensure that your police criminal check is updated annually. Registered Nurses, Practical Nurses,
Personal Support Workers and anyone else involved in the health care team have the right to
know if any offences have been committed by someone on the unit. The fact that Janet Philps
did not tell anyone proves that she is not accountable. Also, it is stated that Janet Philps did not
attend the Notice of Hearing in which she was reminded by the panel in advance. According to
the College of Nurses of Ontarios professional standards on accountability, it is states that all
Nurses are accountable for their decisions and actions and the consequence of those actions.
Registered Nurses (RNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) are not accountable for the
decisions or actions of other health care providers or other nurses (CNO, 2008). Knowing that,
it is clearly evident that Janet Philps was not accountable for her actions due to the fact that she
did not tell anyone on the unit about her decisions and actions. Being accountable is very
important, especially in healthcare, because all nurses have to be responsible for actions taken,
decisions made and tasks completed. I believe that this could have been prevented if Janet
Philps decided to go to the Notice of Hearing. Although this does not make her actions of
attempted murder and arson worse, but it proves that she is accountable by attending. I believe
by not attending the Notice of Hearing made things only worse for Janet. The member of the
court and the members of the health care team now realize that Janet Philps is not accountable
after hearing that she did not attend the Notice of Hearing even after receiving information to
attend prior to the date. Another way this could have been prevented would be if Janet Philps
had told everyone on the unit that she has attempted to set fire to a dwelling and attempted
murder before the evidence came out. By doing this the members of the health care team would
realize that she is accountable and responsible for her actions. Although this would not worsen
her convictions it would set a good example for her and the members of the health care team she
works worth. Ultimately, if Janet Philps followed these two strategies it would most definitely
help her in the long run. The fact that she did not do this proves that she is not accountable.
It is clearly evident that Janet Philps showed no respect for human life due to the actions she had
attempted to commit. According to her case, she had attempted to set fire to a dwelling knowing
fully that someone was inside there at the time. The fact that she knew that an individual was
inside the dwelling at the time clearly proves that she has no respect for life because she intended
to hurt the individual. According to the College of Nurses of Ontarios professional standards for
ethics, respect for life means that human life is precious and needs to be respected, protected
and treated with consideration (CNO, 2014). Knowing that, it is clearly evident that Janet
Philps had no respect for life due to the fact that she attempted murder on an individual
disregarding the life of the person. I believe that Janet Philps could have prevented this situation
from happening if she had followed the Golden Rule. According to Nursetogether, the Golden
Rule is to do unto others as you would like them to do unto you. (Hess, 2013). If Janet Philps
simply followed this rule she would not have done what she had attempted to do. I highly doubt
that Janet Philps would want that to happen to herself. Ultimately, if everyone follows the
Golden Rule no one would be in harms way and everyone would have more respect for life.
Another strategy that I think would help Janet Philps would be to realize that she is a Nurse. If
you ask anyone they can tell you that Nurses are mean to care, love and respect everyone. The
fact that she attempted to harm someone goes beyond he morals of Nurse. If I were her I would
rethink being a Nurse in the future. I find it very shocking that something like that was going
through her mind at the time. All nurses are taught how to respect the life of others in any given
circumstance. Ultimately, If Janet followed these two strategies she might have made a different
decision.
As stated above, the member was convicted of attempted murder and attempting so set
fire to a dwelling disregarding human life. The panel decided to have the members certificate of
registration revoked immediately. In conclusion, it clearly evident that the ethical values that
were contravened were accountability and respect for life. I believe that individuals must realize
that everyone must be responsible for their actions no matter what. Not telling anyone will only
make things worse as it did for Janet Philps. Also, if everyone followed the Golden Rule no
cases like this would happen in the future. If humans treated others the way they want to be
treated this would not occur. Being accountable for your actions is very important not only in
nursing but in many other professions. It is known that if you are not an accountable person other
would find it hard to respect and trust you.
References
Professional Standards. (2008). 1st ed. [ebook] Available at:
http://LearnAboutStandardsAndGuidelines/prac/learn/modules/profstands/slides/Accountability.
pdf
Nursing Ethics | Canadian Nurses Association. (2014, January 1). Retrieved November 7, 2014.
http://www.cna-aiic.ca/en/on-the-issues/best-nursing/nursing-ethics
Hess, V. (2013, September 20). Good Nurses Living The. Retrieved November 7, 2014,
from http://www.nursetogether.com/good-nurses-follow-the-golden-rule
Practice Standard Ethics. (2014, January 1). Retrieved November 7, 2014.
http://www.cno.org/Global/docs/prac/41034_Ethics.pdf

Discipline Committee of The College of Nurses of Ontario

Uploaded by

Discipline Committee of The College of Nurses of Ontario

Uploaded by

DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE OF THE COLLEGE OF NURSES OF ONTARIO