Saskatchewan’s highest court has overruled a disciplinary decision and $26,000 fine levied against a nurse who criticized her grandfather’s care on Facebook.
The Court of Appeal quashed the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association‘s finding of professional misconduct against Carolyn Strom, a registered nurse from Prince Albert, Sask.
A few weeks after her grandfather’s death in 2015, Strom wrote on Facebook that some unnamed staff at his long-term care facility in Macklin, Sask., were not up to speed on delivering end-of-life care.
Strom made the post as a private citizen, and had lost two previous decisions. […]
Justice Brian Barrington-Foote wrote in his decision that Strom’s freedom of expression was infringed and she had a right to criticize the care her grandfather received.
The judge ruled that criticism of the health care system is in the public interest and when it comes from frontline workers it can bring positive change.
It’s a win for a Prince Albert nurse, one that some are calling a victory for freedom of speech.
GOOD.
The process is the punishment. There is nothing good about this. Its like saying a skydiver who is a quad. is lucky because he ain’t dead.
The Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association is likely in lock-step with their union and thus the NDP in zealous defense of the soviet health care system. It’s too bad she had to through this Stalinism in the first place but I suspect nothing will change.
Guess what? It is nice she won, but look at what she had to endure. The warning has been made and the losers will be more than willing to repeat it for anyone else who wants to spend 5 years of their life in court(s) and spend obscene amounts of their own money. The process is the punishment, the outcome is irrelevant (unless she goes after them for infringing her charter right to free speech??)
And they will appeal again. The process is the punishment.
” … the losers will be more than willing to repeat it for anyone else … ”
Exactly, Shawn. Because, just like dealing with government bureaucrats and politicians, it is invariably impossible or exceedingly difficult to hold tormentors accountable as individuals for their hate-driven actions.
End the various forms of immunity/insulation from repercussions for this sort of action by unions/regulators/government. Make the people handing out the punishment pay their own defense ticket, watch this stuff dry up.
Good for her. But I have a question. If the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses and Canadian Federation Nurses Union are pleased with this decision…and by all accounts they seem to be, why did Ms. Strom need a fundraiser to pay her fine and legal bills?
Just spitballin’.
“Those who would deny others their freedom of speech should suffer corporal punishment until they themselves can speak no longer.” Buddy.
A court made a wise decision, what’s wrong with them? It’s too bad she couldn’t get restitution from the nurses union for the pain and suffering she’s been put through. In the end they’ll get revenge. If she’s still nursing for a living they’ll make sure the rest of her career is as miserable as it can be.
Never fear the Union will appeal to the nearest Human Rots Commish.
For criticism of the Sacred Cow of Can Ahh Duh,is “Hatespeech”.
That mythical Public Healthcare for all.Free government care.
Best system in the world.
Pure nonsense but you cannot criticize,for this is the rock upon which “caring Canadians” define themselves.
Old White Guy is right,Stupidity is the defining characteristic of this herd.
The Caribou is our national symbol.
I fully expect them to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. It isn’t over.
The public defines a good nurse as one who cares about his/her patients and puts their needs above his/her own.
The union defines a good nurse as one that will do the union’s dirty work.
As I see it…the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association is a nurses regulatory body. I would have thought both unions would have had Strom’s back on this.
Thought wrong.